A California man is accused of a horrific domestic violence incident where he carved his name into his girlfriend's chest with a razor and held her captive for a week, investigators told MyNewsLA.
Sergio Joaquin Mendoza was charged with kidnapping, criminal threats, domestic battery and corporal injury after cops say he repeatedly assaulted his girlfriend over the course of several days beginning March 17 when the couple got into an argument. He pleaded not guilty on Monday to the charges.
The woman's nightmare began when Mendoza allegedly told her she could not leave the room they rented at Mendoza's grandmother's home in Santa Ana, Anthony Berttagna of the Santa Ana Police told MyNewsLA.
For the next several days, Mendoza never let his girlfriend out of his sight, punching her repeatedly and making her sit in his car while he was at work, police said.
The violence escalated on March 22 when Mendoza assaulted his girlfriend again and wouldn't let her leave his grandmother's home.
"The defendant is accused of telling the victim he would let her leave if she allowed him to carve his name into her chest," Roxi Ford of the Orange County District Attorney's Office told the Orange County Register.
The boyfriend followed through on his threat and continued the assaults until his grandmother and uncle kicked the couple out of the house, police said.
After forcing his girlfriend into his car, Mendoza drove around all night, stopping in several Santa Ana parking lots while he kept her captive, head-butted and choked her.
She was finally able to escape and ran to a nearby business. The owner called police and the woman was taken to a hospital.
Mendoza is being held on $100,000 bail. He faces up to 11 years in prison if convicted.
