The woman sought help from the base's Sexual Assault Victim Intervention program and was treated at the base hospital last week, base sources said. Local police could not be reached for comment. However, Spanish law enforcement authorities typically release little or no information on sexual assault cases. But it's in the hands of local police. The assault has alarmed women and men at a time when sexual assaults are expected to rise with the growing number of visitors to the area.
Crime typically increases during the summer because of the influx of tourists.
This month, the province is busting at the seams with visitors. Thousands are in town for festivals and a motorcycle race in Jerez. Rota is celebrating Feria de Primavera, a fair that includes flamenco dancing, live music and plenty of Spanish sherry. The naval station's newspaper ran a story in this week's edition warning women that the base and the surrounding communities are no safer regarding sexual assault than any other U.S. town. The base's Sexual Assault Victim Intervention program receives an average of one reported case of sexual assault or rape each month, program coordinator Kay Kinghorn said.