Firefighters arrested for alleged post-golf gang rape after incriminating texts are discovered
“I would hope it doesn’t get out unless the worst happens or we mention it," one firefighter allegedly texted another. "Which I won't ever."
lawandcrime.com
Two New Mexico firefighters, and one man who recently retired from the same department, appeared in court this week to face disturbing allegations that they engaged in a gang rape after a round of golf.
Aden Heyman, 46, Angel Portillo, 36, and Anthony Martin, 44, each stand accused of criminal sexual penetration in the second degree.
They were arrested on Wednesday night and booked into jail, according to the Albuquerque Police Department. They silently appeared in court via video on Thursday, where attorneys entered not-guilty pleas, according to Albuquerque-based NBC affiliate KO
The woman claims she voluntarily drank with Portillo and Martin at a golf tournament throughout that day. Martin then invited the others back to the swimming pool at The Villas at Menaul, an apartment complex on Menaul Boulevard in the northeastern part of the city. There, Heyman later met up with the group, the woman told police.
The woman told police they “were swimming, laughing and having fun,” but when Heyman showed up, “the energy shifted,” according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Albuquerque Journal.
The woman allegedly said her memory got hazy and “began to fade,” but she remembered waking up to the men holding her down and taking turns raping her. The woman told police she was “terrified” and Heyman was “instructing the other two” and “coaching them.”
Making up an excuse to use the restroom, the woman climbed out the window. She was found doubled over and crying near the swimming pool by a couple who called police around 11 p.m.
The woman told police she initially had consensual sex with one of the men – but that after she “lost a couple of hours,” at least two men were raping her, and nothing was consensual inside the bedroom.
An attorney for one of the men claims everything was consensual.
Police then found messages between Heyman and Martin from July 18.
“I don’t think she wants people knowing about it,” Heyman allegedly wrote.
“I would hope it doesn’t get out unless the worst happens or we mention it,” Martin allegedly replied. “Which I won’t ever.”
To which Heyman allegedly wrote back: “I’ll never say a word about it to anyone and I’m sure [Portillo] is on the same page.”
Police also claim that Heyman entered the following search terms into Google on Aug. 7: “how long does dna stay in vagina.”
All three firefighters were placed on administrative leave after the allegations came to light. Martin eventually retired from the department.
