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Man sentenced to 52 years for 2022 rape, kidnapping
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A former Bernalillo County firefighter convicted of sexual assault and other charges was sentenced to 52 years in prison last month.
A 2nd Judicial District Court jury on June 21 convicted Celso Montano, 49, of kidnapping, three counts of criminal sexual penetration, one count of aggravated battery leading to great bodily harm, and intimidation of a witness via telephone.
District Judge Cindy Leos sentenced Montano to the maximum allowed under law.
On April 30, 2022, Montano kidnapped and confined a woman with the intent of inflicting sexual harm against her, according to a Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court criminal complaint. Montano sexually abused the woman with a metal object, it said.
Montano harassed the victim for two years after and threatened her or offered to give her “anything of value” to keep her from reporting him to law enforcement officers, the complaint said.
This is the first time Montano has been convicted of rape, but it was one of several such cases filed against him since the 1990s.
Court records show at least one case against Montano was dropped due to prosecutors missing deadlines. Two others were dismissed because the women who accused him died before trial.
