Incident just one of numerous domestic violence cases in the
county, officials say
Hollister – A 21-year-old man was arrested by Hollister police on after imprisoning a woman in his Hollister home and branding her with a knife, police said.
Nabor Gonzalez, 21, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of felony domestic violence, false imprisonment, assault with a deadly weapon and illegal possession of a firearm by a felon.
Gonzalez, who has a previous domestic violence conviction, refused to the let the woman leave his house for more than a week, according to police spokeswoman Rosie Betanio. The woman also told police that Gonzalez beat her and cut her legs and inner thighs with a knife to brand her. The cuts were made “so no other man would be attracted to her,” Betanio said. Police also seized a rifle found in the home.
Although the woman was not restrained by the suspect, police believe Gonzalez used fear and threats of violence to keep her from leaving the house.
“This case is more severe than most domestic violence cases,” Betanio said. “The number of days she was kept inside and the degree of violence are uncommon.”
Gonzalez was arrested at his Hollister home after a neighbor called police. Police were still finishing an arrest report Friday.
District Attorney John Sarsfield said domestic violence was “at near epidemic levels” throughout San Benito County. Although the prosecutor has not yet reviewed the case, he said serious additional charges may be warranted depending on the facts.
“Intentional maiming or scaring could be considered torture,” he said. “And torture carries a life sentence.”
However, unlike theft and drunk driving, domestic offenders do not face stiffer penalties for multiple convictions, Sarsfield said.
Nearly 150 people are arrested for domestic violence in Hollister each year, according to department statistics. Many more go unreported, Betanio said. And recidivism rates are high for domestic violence offenders.
“A lot of the victims are not financially stable or worry about deportation so they stay with the abuser,” she said. “But we don’t care about immigration status or report it.”
Victim Advocate Katie Fancher said that while residents are more aware of the problem of domestic violence and the crimes seem to be reported sooner, more still needs to be done.
“The law has changed dramatically in the last two decades,’ she said.
Gonzalez’s is being held at the San Benito County Jail in lieu of $95,000 bail. If convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, he could face up to four years in prison.
