New Mexico Man Accused of Kidnapping Woman at Gunpoint from Ohkay Hotel Casino

• An Abiquiú man allegedly abducted his girlfriend at gunpoint from a casino
• Victim says she was beaten with a bat at Devil’s Playground
• Prosecutors cite long violent record, seek pretrial detention for Jaramillo

An Abiquiú, NM, man is facing kidnapping and battery charges after abducting a woman at gunpoint from the Ohkay Hotel Casino and brutally beating her in his car while high on fentanyl, The Santa Fe New Mexican reports.

Juanito Toby Jaramillo, 44, has a long history of violent offenses dating back 20 years, including convictions for kidnapping and rape, according to prosecutors.

On November 7, he arrived at the casino — which is about 30 minutes north of Santa Fe — and began arguing with his girlfriend, whom he accused of infidelity. The couple was removed from the premises by security guards, at which point Jaramillo forced the woman into his vehicle at gunpoint, according to court records.

Stepdaughter Involved, Not Charged

The victim later told police that Jaramillo’s stepdaughter was in the back seat. The stepdaughter was also high on fentanyl and threatened her with a knife, according to the victim’s account.

Jaramillo attacked the woman in his vehicle before taking her to an area known locally as the “Devil’s Playground.” The victim said she was laid on a collapsed tent that had been spread out on the ground. The stepdaughter then beat her with a baseball bat while Jaramillo threatened her with a gun and pistol-whipped her, prosecutors said.

Jaramillo was arrested and booked into the Rio Arriba County jail on November 19. His stepdaughter, who was named in arrest documents, hasn’t been charged in connection with the incident.

Criminal History

Prosecutors argued that Jaramillo should remain in jail because of his criminal history. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to kidnapping in connection with the abduction, assault, and rape of a woman. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, but walked out of court a free man because he had already spent 19 months in jail awaiting trial.

He has also been convicted of burglary, drunk driving, assault, and weapons violations, and faced drug-trafficking charges that were later dropped.