Suspect in Maria Gomez-Perez case pleads not guilty

Antonio Agustin-Ailo faces charges in the disappearance of 12-year-old Maria Gomez-Perez of Gainesville, GA.Photo byTuscarawas County Sheriff's Office

The man suspected of kidnapping and sexually abusing a 12-year-old Gainesville girl pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Friday in Ohio, according to the Tuscarawas District Attorney. Antonio Agustin-Ailon entered his plea in court on August 16 following his indictment last week on six counts.

The 34-year-old is accused in the disappearance of Maria Gomez-Perez, who was the subject of a two-month-long search after she vanished from her home on May 29.

Not guilty plea

The indictment handed down against her alleged abuser accuses Agustin-Ailon of interfering with custody, rape, gross sexual imposition, and pandering sexually-oriented material involving a minor.

“At the arraignment today, Agustin-Ailon plead not guilty. The Public Defender’s Office was appointed, and we moved the court to deny bail,” Tuscarawas County District Attorney Ryan Styer told Now Habersham.

The bond hearing is set for Wednesday, August 21.

“He will not be extradited any time soon,” says Suri Chadha Jimenez, a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor in Atlanta who is closely following the case. He says Tuscarawas County will complete its case before Agustin-Ailo is returned to face charges in Hall County.

“Georgia can move independently and continue to investigate the case so that they are ready when the case is completed in Ohio,” he says.

Jimenez says he feels Ohio is taking this case “very seriously” and is making it a priority.

Possible life sentence

Law enforcement says Agustin-Ailon connected with Gomez-Perez over social mediaand, on May 29, drove from Ohio to Georgia to pick her up at her house. He returned to Ohio with her, and that’s where Hall County investigators tracked him down nearly two months later and recovered the girl.

During the time she was missing, prosecutors say Agustin-Ailon compelled Gomez-Perez to engage in sexual activity and allegedly created pornographic images of her.

Agustin-Ailon is currently being held in the Tuscarawas County Jail. If convicted, he could face life in prison.