A man found guilty of rape by a jury in June was sentenced on Thursday in an Albuquerque courtroom. Celso Montano, accused of sexually assaulting multiple women over the past 30 years, was convicted on several charges involving one victim. The charges included rape, kidnapping, and battery.
Some of Montano’s earlier cases collapsed in court. In 2012, he was accused of raping four women but ultimately pleaded down to a misdemeanor. In 2019, he was linked to a 2009 rape through a DNA match, but the case was dropped after the victim passed away. The most recent incident took place in 2022.
“There is no question that the defendant tortured, humiliated a woman who frankly, under the circumstances is lucky to be alive today. Mr. Montano has taken advantage of a population in our community that is incredibly vulnerable,” said Judge Cindy Leos during sentencing.
Montano received a 52-year prison sentence.
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