A man from California is currently facing a range of serious charges after allegedly coercing the driver of a single-vehicle accident into his vehicle, where he subsequently assaulted her on two different occasions in December 2024, specifically in Maryland.
This California resident, identified as 27-year-old Mauricio Martinez-Garcia from Madera, has been named as the suspect by the Montgomery County police in a news release issued on Wednesday. He faces charges that include two counts of first-degree rape, a count of third-degree sexual offense, two counts of kidnapping, and five counts of second-degree assault.
The events leading to these charges began on December 18, 2024, when a woman was at a restaurant located on the 16100 block of Shady Grove Road, waiting for her meal. While she was at the bar, a man she did not know approached her and insisted on paying for her meal.
After returning to her table, the woman took a few bites of her food but soon felt unwell and decided to leave the restaurant before she finished her meal, according to statements from Montgomery County police.
While driving home, the woman got into a single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Sam Eig and Great Seneca Highways. According to police reports, Martinez-Garcia then offered to assist her but forcibly compelled her to enter his car against her will.
Martinez-Garcia then drove her to his apartment in Montgomery County, where he assaulted her. The woman was assaulted a second time after he transported her to her residence in Prince George’s County.
Authorities apprehended Martinez-Garcia on Tuesday, nearly a year after the woman reported the incident and underwent a forensic examination. Investigators linked him to the crime after reviewing a DNA sample collected during a separate investigation conducted by the Department of the Army.
Police have not confirmed if the “unknown male” the woman met at the bar was indeed Martinez-Garcia. The investigation is still ongoing.
As Martinez-Garcia awaits extradition from California back to Maryland, law enforcement officials are encouraging anyone with further information about the case or the individual involved to reach out to the Montgomery County Department of Police Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400.
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