LAS CRUCES – Eligio Soto, 37, of Las Cruces was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to numerous charges in connection to an incident in October of last year.
Soto pleaded guilty to one count each of second-degree kidnapping, aggravated battery against a household member with a deadly weapon, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, battery against a household member, interference with communications and possession of methamphetamine, Third Judicial District Attorney Mark D’Antonio announced Friday. The charges, four felonies and two misdemeanors, carry a maximum sentence of 22 and a half years in prison.
As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors and Soto’s defense attorney agreed to recommend a 12-year sentence. District Judge Fernando Macias on Friday sentenced Soto to the maximum, with all counts running consecutive to one another — the full 22 and a half years — with all but 12 suspended. Daniel Sewell and Tomas Medina prosecuted the case on behalf of the State.
“The successful resolution of this case gets a dangerous man and violent criminal off our streets for years to come,” D’Antonio said. “We believe that justice matters, and will continue to pursue it on behalf of the residents of Doña Ana County.”
According to investigators with the Las Cruces Police Department, detectives learned that Soto and his 46-year-old girlfriend got into an argument at an apartment on south Telshor Boulevard. Detectives were told the argument escalated and Soto punched his girlfriend, and then pulled out an ice pick and used it to force the woman into her car.
Soto told the woman he planned to drive her to her parents house and kill her in front of them before killing himself. Instead, he drove her to his own relative’s home on the East Mesa. At some point, the woman tried to escape by attempting to jump from the moving car, at which point Soto stabbed her three times with the ice pick. Her injuries were not life-threatening.
Soto was arrested on Nov. 7, at which time police found him to be in possession of methamphetamine.
Soto must begin serving the sentence immediately. Upon release, he must abide by strict conditions of probation, or else he will have to serve the remaining 10 and a half years the judge suspended.
Information from Third Judicial District Attorney's office