Man kidnapped woman, chained her in his garage and raped her, NM officials say
A man kidnapped a woman, then repeatedly raped her in his garage in 2022, New Mexico prosecutors say.
Now Celso Montano has been sentenced to 52 years in prison, the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office said in a July 3 Facebook post.
“There is no question that the defendant tortured, humiliated a woman who frankly, under the circumstances is lucky to be alive today,” Judge Cindy Leos said during Montano’s sentencing hearing, KRQE reported.
Montano is accused of kidnapping a woman in April 2022, prosecutors said in a June Facebook post.
He then “restrained her in his garage using chains, and repeatedly sexually assaulted her,” prosecutors said.
For the next two years, Montano continued to harass the woman, threatening her and offering her “anything of value” to prevent her from reporting the incident, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Albuquerque Journal.
Montano’s “sentencing comes after a thorough investigation into a series of sexual assaults spanning over three decades,” the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Over the years, Montano “targeted vulnerable women,” deputies said.
Then, in 2022, “a brave survivor came forward,” which set off an investigation into Montano, deputies said.
A jury found him guilty of multiple counts, including kidnapping, criminal sexual penetration, aggravated battery and witness intimidation in June, prosecutors said.
“We are thankful for the survivor’s bravery for following this case to the end and getting justice,” Deputy District Attorney Jack Jacks said in the post.
Montano was charged in “multiple sexual assaults spanning from 1996 to 2023,” but “this is his first conviction,” according to prosecutors.
“We recognize this case as a major victory for survivors and a testament to the power of persistence, professionalism, and bravery,” deputies said.
