Gainesville man charged with raping neighbor who came over for housewarming party

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Marlon Herber Mercado Esquilin, 46, was arrested early yesterday morning and charged with sexual battery after a woman who was visiting his house for a housewarming party accused him of raping her.

The victim told an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy that she and her husband had been invited to Esquilin’s home by Esquilin and his girlfriend, to celebrate the recent purchase of the home; she said that she and her husband live near Esquilin and had been friends with him for several years.

They arrived at about 10 p.m. on Friday evening, but her husband decided to walk home shortly after they got there because he had taken some sleeping medicine, and it started to take effect. The victim’s husband told the deputy that his wife was not intoxicated when he left. At about 11 p.m., Esquilin’s girlfriend reportedly gave the victim a mixed alcoholic drink, and the victim said she doesn’t remember anything after drinking about half the drink. She said that when she woke up at about 5 a.m. on Saturday, she was nude, and Esquilin, who was also nude, was lying on top of her saying, “You know you want this.” She said she told him no, got up, put her clothes on, and left his home. She stopped a passing jogger and asked them to 911. The victim was transported to Shands where she requested a sexual assault kit.

A search warrant has been approved to collect evidence.

Esquilin has no local criminal history; bail information is unavailable on weekends.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.