Crime & Safety

Richfield Man Charged With Holding Girlfriend Captive

Fermin Garcia Luna-Galicia is charged with domestic assault, disorderly conduct and preventing his girlfriend from calling 911.

A Richfield man has been charged with domestic assault and disorderly conduct after authorities say he held his girlfriend captive in a bedroom and kept her from calling 911.

Fermin Garcia Luna-Galicia, 29, who lives in the 7200 block of 12th Avenue, is charged with two counts of domestic assault, one count of disorderly conduct/fighting, and one count of interfering with an emergency call.

According to report, the 50-year-old victim called police June 12 and reported that Luna-Galicia, her boyfriend of 18 months, had kept her from leaving a bedroom for an hour, “belittling and berating her” and “yelling about their age difference.”

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In addition, when the defendant tried to leave, Luna-Galicia pushed her onto the bed or stood in front of the locked door to keep her from escaping. When she tried to scream for help, Luna-Galicia covered her mouth, according to the report.

At one point, Luna-Galicia took the victim’s phone and left the room. She then followed him outside and during the subsequent struggle, the report said Luna-Galicia grabbed the victim’s arms tightly and caused her pain.

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When the victim was able to get her phone, Luna-Galicia left the house, taking the house keys and telling the victim, “I have a lot of friends. Watch yourself. You are going to regret this. You’re going to rue this day."

The victim called 911 and told authorities that she was “very fearful” of Luna-Galicia, who, she said, associates with gang members and frequently refers to them in an effort to intimidate her.

Luna-Galicia returned to the home several hours later, and Police returned and took him into custody.

Luna-Galicia pleaded not guilty this week to all the charges against him and was released on his promise to make all future court appearances and to stay away from the victim. A pretrial hearing in his case is scheduled for Aug. 3, 2011.


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