- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
REGIONAL: Officials arrest men for sexual assault, holding woman captive for months
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Sonoma County authorities have arrested three men they say are responsible for holding a 22-year-old woman hostage for months and brutally sexually and physically assaulting her.
On Wednesday, detectives from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit arrested Santa Rosans Jose Angel Barajas-Mireles and Guillermo Crestino Avina, both age 34, and Jaime Gomez Cisneros, 52, of Watsonville, according to a report from Sgt. Cecile Focha.
Focha said the agency's detectives, after an exhaustive investigation, developed probable cause to believe that the man who masterminded the criminal acts and committed the sexual assault crimes was Barajas-Mireles, the resident of the main house at 3555 Stony Point Road in Santa Rosa.
They authored a warrant for Barajas-Mireles's arrest. Focha said that, because Barajas-Mireles was a flight risk, the judge increased the bail amount to $6 million.
On Wednesday at about 4 p.m. three men came to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office to retrieve property seized during the search warrant service last Thursday. They were detained as they approached the building, Focha said.
Detectives subsequently arrested Barajas-Mireles, Avina and Cisneros, according to Focha.
Barajas-Mireles is charged with aggravated sodomy, aggravated oral copulation and aggravated rape. Focha said additional charges may be added as the investigation unfolds.
Focha said Avina and Cisneros were charged with false imprisonment and as an accessory to Barajas-Mireles’ criminal actions by aiding and abetting her captivity. Avina also had the charge of violation of probation. The two could also face additional charges as the investigation continues.
Detectives learned that the victim had been held against her will, threatened and brutalized since sometime during the holidays, until her escape several days ago, Focha said.
Out of an overwhelming sense of fear of retaliation, coupled with the traumatic events she endured, she initially stated to law enforcement that she had been kidnapped at gunpoint, according to Focha.
Focha said detectives determined that Barajas-Mireles orchestrated the events that led to the victim being held captive on the property on Stony Point Road.
Based on the investigation, investigators believe Barajas-Mireles is responsible for much of the sexual and physical assaults. Focha said Cisneros and Avina were responsible for guarding the victim and preventing her from leaving the compound.
The three men were booked into Sonoma County Jail. Barajas-Mireles bail was set at $6 million, with bail for Avina and Cisneros set at $11,000 each, Focha said. They are due to be arraigned on Friday afternoon.
The victim is safe at an undisclosed location, Focha said.
Focha said the investigation remains open and active. Additional information will be released when it will not jeopardize the case.
Anyone with information pertaining to this case is encouraged to call the Investigations Tip Line at 707-565-2185. You can leave a message anytime, day or night, and remain anonymous.