Man accused in rape, attempted murder of girl, 5
Published: July 6, 2009
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Police lead Felix Montoya, 40, of Taylor, to his arraignment Sunday on charges of rape of a child, attempted homicide and other offenses.
TAYLOR - A 40-year-old man has been charged in the brutal rape and attempted murder of a 5-year-old girl after a holiday picnic at her family's home, police said.
Felix E. Montoya, of 270 Tamworth Drive, was discovered half-clothed in the child's bedroom early Sunday by a shocked family who kept him at bay until police arrived. He was charged with rape of a child, attempted homicide and other offenses.
The victim was treated at a hospital for injuries to her face and head, adult bite marks on her thigh and shoulder and severe rape-related injuries, according the criminal complaint.
The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of alleged sexual crimes.
Shackled and handcuffed and clad in a hospital gown, Mr. Montoyo quietly told reporters he was "sorry" as he was led to arraignment before Magisterial District Judge Alyce Hailstone Farrell on Sunday afternoon.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Taylor Patrolmen Kevin Froese and Ryan Deluccie, the victim's family hosted an Independence Day picnic Saturday in their yard. Although unknown to the family, Mr. Montoyo attended as a friend of a friend.
The victim went to bed at about 10:30 p.m. At 2 a.m. Sunday, her parents began to clean up and checked on their children, only to find the victim's door locked. The mother knocked on the door and after a few moments, the girl opened it and ran out, her face red and swollen and her underpants on backwards. Mr. Montoyo was found under a bed wearing only tennis shoes and a T-shirt, police said. The father entered the room and cornered the man until police arrived.
Investigators found the girl's nightgown stained with blood and feces. At Community Medical Center, Dr. Michael Rogan of the Children's Advocacy Center and emergency room physician Dr. Vincent Pollino cataloged the girl's injuries: Severe bruising and cuts to the back, bruising and bleeding around the eyes consistent with strangulation, adult bite marks on shoulder and thigh, adult hand marks on her neck and right cheek and rape-related injuries significant enough to require surgery.
In court Sunday, Mr. Montoyo sat with his head down and hands tightly clasped, his knees shaking as the air conditioner kicked on.
As Judge Farrell contemplated bail, Mr. Montoyo noted that he had lived in the area for eight years, and in Brooklyn, N.Y., for 13 years before that. He told the judge he was born in Colombia, is married, has a job and two grown children.
First Assistant District Attorney Gene Talerico said given the heinousness of the crime and Mr. Montoyo's connections to Brooklyn, Colombia and Costa Rica, he would argue for "significant bail," although he did not specify an amount. Judge Farrell set bail at $200,000, and Mr. Montoyo was committed to the Lackawanna County Prison.
"In case someone posts this, you are not to have any contact with this little girl - not you and not anyone through you," she warned.
When asked if he had anything to say, Mr. Montoyo told the judge "I am sorry for real. I never did anything like this before in my life. It is stupid."
Mr. Montoya's preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. July 15, in county court.
Contact the writer: dfalchek@timesshamrock.com.
222 posted comments
Who cares or wants to know what he was like or what he did or didn't do before this ? Why do we look for excuses when a person goes over the line and becomes the equal of a sick rabbied vicious animal when it is past the point of it making a difference ? It is time to act and rid society of such a creature once it has gone mad enough to attack and to harm to an innocent child or anyone for that matter !!! The real shame of this is the fact that had the family "done what instinct tells us to do ..Protect our children & loved ones" and lost it at the time and killed this animal/person they would probably not be able to make bail and end up with major court cost or serve time in prison. Again be the victims of laws that are not in force to protect people from the sick criminals that we are seeing all the time in the news! We all need help for changes to prevent this from happening again and again !!!
I cannot believe the scumbag that did this can possibly be bailed out. Shame on the judge. Shame on anyone that would post the bail for this lowlife. I just dont understand how bail could even enter the judge's mind when this lowlife scumbag admitted to the crime.
Judge you should be ashamed of yourself and if you have any morals at all you should step down, I pray to God nothing like this ever happens to anyone in your family. Would you then still think setting bail would be alright. Shame on you