Man charged in Christmas Day arson allegedly assaulted girlfriend with screwdriver

The man accused of setting an apartment on fire on Christmas Day allegedly assaulted his girlfriend with an 8-inch screwdriver, a complaint affidavit states.

Sergio Misael Morales Mondaca, 25, was taken into custody and booked into the El Paso County Jail on Sunday, fire officials added.

The victim told police she had been in a relationship with Morales Mondaca for nearly a year. She said they had been at a friend’s party Christmas Day when Morales Mondaca started flirting with her friend. The couple got into an argument and the victim took away Morales Mondaca’s apartment keys. She told him she did not want him staying at her apartment anymore, the affidavit states.

Morales Mondaca left the friend’s party but allegedly called the victim later that day to let her know he was inside her unit at the San Jose Apartment complex in the Lower Valley. The victim called police before returning to her apartment. The affidavit states the victim’s son entered the apartment and went back outside to warn his mother not to go inside because Morales Mondaca was holding a screwdriver and allegedly claimed he was “going to kill her and burn down the house.”

When the victim confronted Morales Mondaca, he allegedly swung the screwdriver, scratching her face. A struggle for the screwdriver ensued and the couple fell the floor, where Morales Mondaca allegedly punched the victim in the face, the affidavit states.

The victim ran away, but Morales Mondaca allegedly followed her outside, where he continued to punch her, the affidavit states. A witness attempted to separate the two, but the struggle continued with Morales Mondaca allegedly attempting to strangle the woman. The witness was able to momentarily pull Morales Mondaca away from the victim.

At this point, a police officer arriving at the complez allegedly observed the victim on her knees and Morales Mondaca holding her down by the shoulders. The officer was able to detain and take Morales Mondaca into custody.

The complaint affidavit does not state at which point Morales Mondaca set the apartment unit on fire.

Morales Mondaca was charged with arson of a habitation, a first degree felony, fire officials added. The complaint affidavit and jail records show Morales Mondaca was also charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. His bonds total $65,000.