Police say 18-year-old Cirilo Chalula, an illegal alien, was arrested and taken into custody Tuesday evening for assaulting a 6-year-old girl.

Investigators began looking into the case Saturday after the parents of the girl came forward in suspicion that she was molested. Since then, the number of potential victims, between the ages of four and seven, has increased to nine.

Fliers with descriptions of the suspect were handed out in both English and Spanish Saturday, because many residents in the area speak Spanish.

Detective Melissa Matthews of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit believes the procedure helped more victims speak out.

"I believe the children banned together and they spoke to each other and wound up giving the other children confidence to talk about what happened. I think that helped,? Matthews says.

Chalula?s bail is set at $1 million.