Former Lexington restaurant owner indicted on 23 charges including rape, sodomy

A former Lexington restaurant owner was indicted on 23 charges on Tuesday, June 9, by a Fayette Circuit Court grand jury.

The charges included 17 counts of third-degree rape and five counts of third-degree sodomy, after investigators say he sexually assaulted a teenager over the course of several months.

Marco Jesus Banuelos Valdes, 59, the former owner of Papi’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar, was charged with offenses that occurred between July 16, 2025, and March 27, 2026, the date Lexington police were dispatched to a report of a sexual assault.

According to a criminal complaint, the minor told their mother that Valdes sexually assaulted them between July 2025 and February 2026. Investigators searched the minor’s phone and found a log where the minor documented 21 separate incidents of assault.

All but one of the charges are Class D felony sex crimes, and each rape or sodomy count alleges Valdes engaged in sexual intercourse or deviant sexual intercourse with the minor, who was a 16 or 17 years old at the time, and was at least 10 years older than the minor.

The 23rd charge is for unlawful transaction with a minor in the third-degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Valdes allegedly gave, purchased, or procured an alcoholic beverage for the minor.

Valdes was arrested on April 9 and was ordered to have no contact with the victim. He was released from the Fayette County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond.

On April 10, Papi’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar released a statement on social media condemning the alleged actions of Valdes and severing all ties with the former owner.

The restaurant has since reopened under a new name, Casa Rosita, and new ownership.

Valdes pleaded not guilty to all charges. During his court appearance, his attorney waived a formal arraignment and entered a not guilty plea.

An arraignment is scheduled for July 24 at 10:30 a.m.

This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 12:25 PM.