The Mountaineer

Other victims asked to step forward

A man accused of molesting a 4-year-old girl is in custody of the Haywood County Jail under $80,000 bond. Authorities believe there may be other victims.

Jose Caraballo, 42, is “the kind of guy every parent fears,” said Det. James Marsh, Haywood County Sheriff’s Office.

He is accused of performing sex acts with and in front of a 4-year-old girl. He’s also been seen frequently at a Waynesville Recreation Center park, watching children from a maroon Dodge conversion van, Marsh said, citing witness reports. Other reports associate Caraballo with a makeshift storage facility-turned-weight room where he often works out with teenage boys, and he has a Santa suit, although authorities are not sure how or when the suit has been used.

“His behavior is a major concern,” said Marsh. “He’s high risk. … He fits the stereotypical profile of a pedophile.”

Caraballo was jailed Tuesday on three felony charges, including one count of statutory sex offense — a B1 felony that could carry a sentence of life imprisonment, if convicted — and two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child.

Charges stem from allegations brought about by a 4-year-old girl with whose family is friends with Caraballo.

Caraballo, however, made the initial report. He showed up in the lobby of the sheriff’s office and said he wanted to talk to a detective. He claimed he was going to be accused of molesting a child and gave the victim’s name, said Marsh.

“It’s rare that someone comes to talk to us before a report is filed,” Marsh said. “That was a red flag.”

Further investigation led authorities to evidence of other crimes against the same victim, including Caraballo’s admission to crimes not yet alleged.  Marsh said his demeanor during interviews has been a concern.

“During the interview (with detectives), he expressed to us being sexually attracted to children,” said Marsh. “People don’t ever do that. I’ve interviewed countless (accused) child molesters, and he’s the only person who ever described to me being sexually aroused by children … by my estimation he is a gross threat this community or any other. He is a predator.”

Originally from Puerto Rico, Caraballo moved to Haywood County from Florida years ago, although he’s had no permanent address, said Marsh. Most recently, he was living at a place in Canton, where the alleged crimes against the 4-year-old victim are said to have occurred.

While living in Haywood, Caraballo has also been involved with the amateur wrestling circuit, said Marsh. On stage he’s called the “Puerto Rican animal.”

Due to the draw of that subculture to teenagers, in addition to Caraballo’s reportedly suspicious behavior at town parks, authorities are concerned there may other victims who have not yet come forward.

“Statistically, men who abuse young girls will have an average of 19 victims in their lifetime,” said Marsh. “The average pedophile who molests boys will have 150 victims in his lifetime … the best I can tell, he’s never been caught before. There’s got to be other kids out there. … If so, we need to know about it.”

Det. Marsh asks that anyone who’s had a suspicious encounter with Caraballo contact him at the sheriff’s office by calling 356-2933.