Published in the January 29, 2016 edition

MELROSE — Walter Esteras, 27, of Melrose has been charged by the Middlesex District Attorney’s office with two counts of rape of a child by force, two counts of aggravated rape of a child, and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person under the age of 14.

Melrose Police Lieutenant Mark DeCroteau informed the Weekly News that Esteras was arrested at 35 Fellsmere Road in Malden on November 22. He was charged with indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14.

Esteras was indicted Dec. 15 and arraigned on Dec. 17 in Middlesex Superior Court pertaining to allegations of sexual abuse that allegedly took place for several months beginning last September. Esteras, whose last known address was 40 Hurd Street, is a Level 2 sex offender, according to police.

Bail was set at $100,000. Esteras was ordered by the court not to have contact with the victim as well have no unsupervised contact with children under 16. He was also ordered not work with children under 16.

The next scheduled hearing is April 26 in Middlesex Superior Court. Assistant District Attorney Marisa Tagliareni has been assigned to Esteras’ case.