Sexual battery on farm leads to man beating suspect, say deputies
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POCATELLO — A man suspected of sexual battery on a teenage girl was beaten badly by the girl’s relative, resulting in two arrests, deputies said.
Two Downey men have been charged after Monday’s incident. Cristano D. Garay, 40, has been charged with a misdemeanor for sexual battery, court records show. Jacob Anthony Jones, 40, faces a felony for aggravated battery.
Bannock County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a home on North 3rd Street in Downey around 8 p.m. Monday following reports of a sexual assault, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Upon arrival, deputies spoke with the mother of a 17-year-old female victim. The mother said that the girl was with Garay on the family’s farm feeding cows around 5 p.m. when Garay began to hug and kiss the girl on the face and lips.
Garay then ran his hands on her midsection and breasts, and the girl pushed the man away, the mother told deputies.
When Garay allegedly continued his actions, the girl pulled away and ran home.
The deputy learned that Garay had worked on the farm for around 13 years and had been around the girl for about seven.
While investigating the incident, the deputies also learned that Jones, a relative of the girl, had returned home and been in a fight with Garay.
Deputies left the Jones’ home and responded to the farm, where the fight had occurred.
When deputies arrived at the farm, they spoke with Jones, noting that they did not notice any injuries. The deputies asked Jones if he had been involved in a fight with Garay, to which he responded, “Crisanto might have been in an incident with a cow,” the affidavit says.
Jones added that he believed Garay might be suicidal.
Deputies allowed Jones to see his young relative.
As deputies were searching for Garay, a vehicle approached them. It matched the description they had been given of Garay’s vehicle. The driver, confirmed to be Garay, got out.
According to the affidavit, “It was very evident” that Garay had been involved in a “physical disturbance” when he exited the vehicle.
Police reports describe his face as being “covered with blood.” Blood was covering his shirt and pants, and a wound on his face was actively bleeding.
When EMTs arrived, they began treating Garay but told deputies he needed to be taken to the hospital.
Before he was taken to the hospital, Garay told deputies that he was sorry for what he had done, the affidavit says, saying that he kissed the girl.
When asked to describe what happened, Garay said he was driving and saw Jones’ truck pull up behind him. Jones got out of the truck and approached, so Garay opened his car door to apologize.
When he did, according to Garay, Jones said, “You son of a b***,” and began hitting him.
Garay did not know if a weapon was used or what made Jones stop hitting him. He said he wished to press charges on Jones.
He was then taken to Portneuf Medical Center by ambulance.
Deputies called Jones and requested to meet him at the Downey Fire Station. There, Jones refused to answer questions about the incident and was arrested.
He was taken to Bannock County Jail and booked. He was released on his own recognizance Tuesday.
Garay is scheduled for an arraignment hearing on April 26. Jones is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Magistrate Judge Scott Axline on April 25.