Defense Attorneys Question 'Sex Assault' Claims Of 'Captive' Woman In Sonoma County

Defense attorneys for three men charged in connection with the alleged repeated sexual assaults of a woman at a residence west of Santa Rosa pressed the prosecution in court this morning for more information about the alleged victim before a preliminary hearing on Monday.

Jose Angel Barajas-Mireles, 34, of Santa Rosa, is charged with sexually assaulting the woman who allegedly was held captive between Dec. 1 and Feb. 18, conspiracy and false imprisonment. The complaint alleges the assaults involved torture and use of a deadly weapon and caused great bodily injury.

Guillermo Cresteno Avina, 34, of Santa Rosa, and Jaime Gomez Cisneros, 52, of Watsonville, are charged with six counts of conspiracy and one count of false imprisonment.

They are not charged with sexual assault.

Barajas-Mireles’ attorney Andrew Martinez claims his client, who owns a painting and remodeling business, and the 22-year-old alleged victim had a romantic relationship and consensual sex.

He said the alleged victim worked as a bookkeeper for his client’s business.

Avina’s attorney Kristine Burk told Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Julie Conger the defense’s investigators need the alleged victim’s contact information and a copy of her most recent interview on Tuesday with the prosecution’s investigators.

Deputy District Attorney Chris Honigsberg said the interview would be ready Friday, but it will be more difficult to provide the witness’ contact information. “It’s much more complicated. I’ll do what I can do,” he said.

Burk and Cisneros’ attorney Walter Rubenstein say their clients only worked on Barajas-Mireles’ Stony Point Road ranch. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said they guarded the alleged victim and prevented her from leaving until she escaped through an open door on Feb. 18.

After this morning’s hearing, Martinez said he plans to call witnesses at the preliminary hearing Monday who will attest to the romantic relationship between the alleged victim and Barajas-Mireles.

One witness is a local tattoo artist who gave the alleged victim a tattoo on Jan. 19 with the words “Angel Barajas” and hearts and a butterfly, Martinez said.

Martinez also claims the alleged victim texted Barajas-Mireles while he was in Florida Feb. 4-8. “The texts indicate she was seriously awaiting his return,” Martinez said.

The alleged victim now admits to police that she and Barajas-Mireles were having a consensual sexual relationship, Martinez said.

“She was living in a converted chicken coop before becoming involved with Barajas-Mireles,” Martinez said.

Martinez also said the alleged victim is from El Salvador, has two identities and has a visa to stay in the United States on the grounds of being a crime victim.

“A significant amount of money was missing from my client’s business, and she set up three accounts in two different names,” Martinez said. The 9 a.m. hearing that starts Monday is expected to last two days.

Previous posts:

• Trio Charged Today In Connection With Alleged Kidnap, Assault of Woman, 22
• ‘Not Guilty’ Pleas From 3 Men In Sonoma Co. Captive Woman Case

--Bay City News

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