James Bautista, 21, of Bedford, was arrested on Jan. 22 in connection with alleged sexual assaults in Bow and Londonderry. Courtesy photo/Bow Police Department

BOW – James Bautista, 21, of Bedford, was taken into custody on Jan. 22 in connection with alleged sexual assaults in Bow and Londonderry.

According to the Bow Police Department, in December 2025, the victim’s mother said her 14-year-old daughter was involved in a romantic relationship with Bautista, whom she initially believed was 16. The victim’s mother suspected that Bautista had taken her daughter to Bow up to four times to engage in sexual activity.

During interviews with police and the Merrimack County Child Advocacy Center, the girl said she met Bautista last September and began communicating with him on Snapchat and TikTok.

The victim said Bautista became “a lot touchier” on the second date and began “pressuring her to have sex.”

Bow Police later determined that Bautista sexually assaulted the victim three times in November and December.

The Londonderry Police Department also charged Bautista with statutory rape and fondling in connection with an incident in November.

Bautista has been charged with five counts of felonious sexual assault-penetration-victim 13-15 and two counts of sexual assault.

Under state law, if convicted, he could face up to 37 years in prison, up to 25 years of probation and up to $22,000 in fines.

Bautista is scheduled to appear for probable cause hearings in Concord and Derry on Feb. 19.