Mom Accused of Sexually Assaulting Daughter for Being Gay

Police are investigating as a possible hate crime allegations that a 40-year-old woman in Las Cruces, N.M., physically abused and sexually assaulted her daughter after learning the teenager was gay.

Magdo Haro was arrested Tuesday in connection with charges filed by her 17-year-old daughter, who told investigators that in addition to forbidding her daughter to wear "boy clothes," Haro attacked her with a shoe, allegedly telling her she had "three chances" to stop being a lesbian, according to El Paso, Texas, TV station KFOX.

The teenager, who has not been identified for her own protection, told police her mother then forced her to undress and perform sex acts upon herself to "show her she was a woman, and not a man." The teenager reportedly complied out of fear that her mother would make good on a threat to use a toilet plunger on the girl to "make her feel what it's like to have sex," according to KFOX.

Haro was arrested Tuesday and charged with criminal sexual penetration and child abuse. The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department says the incident qualifies as a hate crime and plans to pursue enhanced charges as a result.

Haro denied the sexual abuse charges but reportedly admitted to hitting her daughter with a shoe. She was released on a $25,000 bail three hours after being taken into custody, according to Las Cruces ABC affiliate KVIA.

Investigators report that there was another family member in the house at the time the alleged assault occurred, and that the family member witnessed the teen's mother ordering the girl to take off her clothes, then heard the two arguing.

Watch KFOX's report on the incident below.