Man convicted of kidnapping woman in Alamogordo

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (KVIA) -- An Otero County jury convicted a man of first-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit first-degree kidnapping, the Twelfth Judicial District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday.

On June 10, 2023, Ernesto Robles, Vanessa Renteria, Samantha Martinez and Luis Balderas abducted a woman from her home in Alamogordo, the D.A.'s office said. The woman used to be friends with the group, officials noted.

Investigators learned the group physically beat her during transport, threatened her with a gun and took her to Robles' home, according to the D.A.'s office. The office said they gagged and tied the woman to a wheelchair.

The group also continued to beat her, the D.A.'s office said. They also partially shaved her head.

Threats against the victim and her family left her afraid to report the crime, the D.A.'s office said.

Two of the co-defendants pleaded guilty. Renteria pleaded guilty to second-degree kidnapping and bribery of a witness and received a 21-year prison sentence on July 14. Martinez pleaded guilty to second-degree kidnapping and received an 18-year prison sentence on July 29.

Robles faces a maximum sentence of 27 years. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 13.