Friday, April 1, 2011

Teen takes deal in kidnap case

AURORA | One of three teenagers accused of kidnapping two men last fall and leaving them bound in a locked storage shed for more than a day has accepted a plea agreement, according to prosecutors.

Edgar Alonso Montelongo, 19, pleaded guilty last week to second-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping in exchange for prosecutors dropping the other charges against him, including a first-degree kidnapping charge that could have carried a life sentence.

According to court records, Montelongo must testify in the cases of his co-defendants, Jaime Baca, now 20, and Mariano Rosales, 17.

It wasn’t clear from court records what sentence Montelongo could face, but the kidnapping charge he plead guilty to could carry a sentence of between eight and 24 years in prison, and in some cases up to 48 years in prison. The conspiracy charge typically carries a sentence of between four and 12 years in prison.

During a hearing in February, prosecutors said the three teens kidnapped the men and bound their eyes and mouths with duct tape before locking them in a shed.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Justin Moore said the three defendants then demanded a $50,000 ransom and four automobiles for the victim’s release.

Moore’s comments during the February hearing marked the first time police or prosecutors have publicly discussed details of the case since the trio’s November arrests.

For the full story, click here.

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