Cops: Immigrant held captive for a year
Victim says captor forced him to have sex
Updated: Tuesday, 13 Oct 2009, 5:49 PM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 13 Oct 2009, 10:39 AM CDT

Shannon Powell
Blair Shiff
AUSTIN (KXAN) - A man is accused of keeping an illegal immigrant in his apartment for a year and forcing him to participate in sexual acts, all the while threatening and abusing him.

Augustin Solano Barcenas, 41, is charged with sexual assault, a second-degree felony, and being an immigration and naturalization service detainer, a felony charge as well.

Barcenas denied the accusation, claiming he "only has sex with women."

According to court documents, police went to an apartment on U.S. Highway 290 on Oct. 6 to conduct a "welfare check" after the victim's family contacted police and said they believed a relative had been kidnapped at that apartment. When police arrived, Barcenas answered the door with the missing man standing in the living room.

Police questioned Barcenas. Barcenas claimed he was the man's uncle. Police realized there was problem when they asked the 19-year-old victim what was going on, and Barcenas interupted.

"He was controlling of the victim at the scene," said Detective Pam McBee, with the Austin Police Department. "He tried to speak for the victim."

A Spanish translator was brought in because the victim did not speak English. She asked the victim if he was there of his own free will, but the victim would look at Barcenas before answering cautiously. Police determined the two men needed to be separated to continue the questioning.

According to an affidavit for Barcenas' arrest warrant, this is what the victim told police:

The victim said Barcenas was not his uncle, and that he met Barcenas through his real uncle, who claimed Barcenas needed workers. Barcenas kept him against his will for the past year and during that time, sexually assaulted him on a regular basis.

"He also threatened the victim to kill him and and his family," said Det. McBee "He also threaten to kill his family in Guatemala, which is a real fear for folks in that area. The suspect had connections in the village that his family was from."

Barcenas claimed he had killed someone before, which made the victim think these were not just empty threats. Barcenas would also physically abuse the victim if he did not obey his demands.

The victim was not allowed to leave the apartment without Barcenas. He was allowed to speak to his family in Guatemala, but only under supervision of Barcenas. The victim claimed Barcenas "preyed on [his] status as an illegal immigrant from Guatemala and fear of deportation."

"Your status as an undocumented person here in the states, that does not matter when it comes to crimes against you," said Det. McBee.

Barcenas is still in jail.


http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/crime/Immi ... _apartment