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A Las Cruces man, Jacob Gonzales, was sentenced to 49 years for kidnapping related charges, the Doña Ana County District Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday, July 17.
Gonzales was sentenced to 49 years in prison for first degree kidnapping, second degree conspiracy, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and interference with communications, Eddie Estrada, special program director and public information officer for the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office, told the Bulletin.
This is not the first time Gonzales faced sentencing for the crime committed in 2020. He was previously tried and convicted but the victim was afraid to testify in court against him. His lawyer appealed to the New Mexico Supreme Court. The higher court agreed that Gonzales had to be retried and the victim would have to testify as part of the retrial.
According to the Doña Ana County District’s Office, Gonzales assaulted his ex-girlfriend, confined her in the trunk of her own vehicle, and transported her to a remote desert location.
Once there, he stripped, beat, and terrorized her before taking her to an abandoned residence, according to the Doña Ana County District’s Office. Gonzales forced his ex-girlfriend to clean up, burned her clothing, and drove her back to her home, where she pretended to be unconscious to survive, the attorney’s office said.
“Despite the traumatic nature of this case and the legal setbacks we faced, justice ultimately prevailed,” said Dona Ana County District Attorney Fernando R. Macias. “The victim showed tremendous courage in coming forward the second time, and today’s sentence reflects the severity of Gonzales’s crimes and the perseverance of our prosecution team.”
Estrada told the Bulletin the crime was committed in Las Cruces.
The victim testified in the retrial and Gonzales was found guilty a second time, according to the District Attorney’s office. His punishment for the second sentencing was ten years longer than the original sentence, according to the Doña Ana County District’s Office.
“This case serves as a reminder that retrying a case, even when it feels disheartening, can sometimes lead to an even greater measure of justice,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Spencer Willson said. “We are proud of our team, our investigators, our advocates, and most importantly, the survivor who bravely reclaimed her voice.”
