Santa Fe County Sheriff's detectives say they arrested a 48-year-old man Tuesday before he was able to flee to Mexico to evade charges he sexually abused a 5-year-old girl.

Blas Varela is being held at the Santa Fe County jail on one felony count of criminal sexual penetration of a minor, a girl police say he had helped care for.

The affidavit for an arrest warrant filed by Detective Donald Romero states investigators tried to locate Varela on Tuesday to interview him about the allegations and saw "several clear trash bags which appeared to contain mens clothing."

Police were told that Varela "was packing up items in attempt to flee the state of New Mexico to Juarez, Mexico," after he learned of the investigation, according to court documents.

Undersherriff Robert Garcia said investigators detained Varela before an arrest warrant was completed because of his flight risk and potential danger to others in the community.

The warrant was processed and Varela was booked into the jail at 4:54 p.m. Tuesday, records show.

Police reports state a 5-year-old girl had told a family member that Varela had been touching her under her clothes, prompting the family to take the girl to police.

The arrest warrant states that results of a sexual-assault exam were "consistent" with the allegations.

Contact Geoff Grammer at 986-3076 or ggrammer@sfnewmexican.com.

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