Diego Perez-Mejia, now aged 25, clocks in as our Minnesota Dad of the day. Originally from Guatemala, more recently he’s been billed out of Marshall, MN.
[Fun fact: the name “Guatemala” originates in a native word meaning “place of many trees.”]
He’s been charged in federal court with having re-entered the U.S. as a previously deported illegal alien and convicted felon.
Our dad’s backstory, as pieced together from federal and state court records:
Our tale begins in Marshall, Minnesota, in 2022. Perez, then aged 21/22 impregnates a girl, then aged 14. She gave birth to their child (a daughter) later that year. The girl has an Alabama birth certificate but appears to speak little or no English. She also appears to be Guatemalan, at least by heritage, if not citizenship. The timeline suggests that she may have been as young as 13 when they began their relationship.
Where are her parents, you ask? Back in Guatemala.
Perez himself also requires the assistance of an interpreter. Local cops visited their Marshall home shortly after the birth of the child in November 2022. Perez’ paternity was confirmed by DNA testing.
In April 2023, Perez was charged with 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct, a felony, which I would describe as the equivalent of statutory rape. In October 2023, he pled guilty to the charge in a plea agreement.
He was sentenced in January 2024. A prison sentence was stayed and he was ordered to spend 60 days in the Lyon County workhouse.
In June 2024, he was deported as a convicted felon and illegal immigrant. In October 2024, he returned to the U.S. He resumed living with the victim, now aged 17, and their child. He appears to have been most recently employed in the meat-packing industry. Previously, our Guatemalan native appeared to have been employed in the lumber industry.
He was pulled over by the Marshall police department in July 2025 for speeding. Perez produced an ID card from Puerto Rico. He was held on a probation violation arising from the 2022 case. He has since been charged with three (3) additional felonies for failure to register as a predatory sex offender.
Perez was a no show for an August 12 county court hearing, as he may have already been taken into federal custody. It’s not clear.
He now faces a federal felony charge in the re-entry case for his October 2024 return.
He still owes a $585 fine in county court.
