Mexico suspends judge in house arrest for child rape suspect

MEXICO CITY – A judicial oversight council suspended a federal judge in Mexico for six months Thursday for granting house arrest to a child rape suspect.

The Federal Judiciary Council said the judge showed “notorious ineptitude and carelessness” in supporting the suspect’s petition for an injunction against being held in prison.

The case occurred in the central state of Hidalgo. It was not clear if the victim lived in or near the house where the suspect would be serving house arrest. Neither the suspect nor victims were named, in keeping with legal rules in Mexico.

The council said the judge had no authority to rule the way he did.

While some lesser crimes are eligible for house arrest in Mexico, rape is considered a serious crime.