Gainesville teen charged with breaking into home, assaulting three female victims

Joseph Salazar

A Gainesville 17-year-old has been charged with breaking into a residence and assaulting three female victims inside the home.

Hall County Sheriff’s Office investigators say Joseph Salazar illegally entered the residence on Thompson Bridge Road just before 11 p.m. December 2, while the victims were sleeping. According to arrest warrants, Salazar made intimate physical contact with two of the victims. He allegedly grabbed the third victim during the incident.

Deputies responded to a 911 call from the residence, and they were able to detain Salazar.

Deputies determined Salazar was under the influence of drugs, the sheriff’s office says. He was taken to the hospital for treatment before being booked at the Hall County Jail.

The investigation determined the suspect knew his victims.

Authorities charged Salazar with two counts of sexual battery against victims over 16 years old, three counts of simple battery, criminal trespass, and obstruction of an officer. He was charged with obstruction for initially resisting arrest at the scene, the sheriff’s office says.

“The warrant indicates he refused to let go of one of the victims, and he refused to show deputies his hands when he was commanded to do so,” says Hall County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson B.J. Williams.

Salazar remained in the Hall County Jail Monday morning.