Cottonwood AZ (February 18, 2021) – On February 17, 2021, the Honorable Thomas Kelley sentenced Humberto Antonio Moreno, age 36, of Cottonwood, to 33.5 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections. Mr. Moreno pled guilty on January 27, 2021, to three counts of Sexual Assault, and one count each of Attempted Sexual Assault, Kidnapping and a dangerous Aggravated Assault.
The events occurred on August 16, 2020. Around 10:30 AM that morning, the Cottonwood Fire and Police Departments responded to an area home after receiving a call from a medical alert device from the residence. When they arrived, they found the front door blocked by furniture. Upon forcing entry, emergency first responders discovered that the bedroom door was locked. From behind the door, a man yelled that he was naked, and everything was all right. Emergency personnel knew the elderly woman lived alone in the home and forced the bedroom door open. There, they apprehended the defendant in the act of trying to suffocate the 75-year old woman. Mr. Moreno was taken into custody and the victim was transported to the hospital.
Police investigators learned that the victim heard a knock on her patio door very early that morning. She responded to the knock and Mr. Moreno told her the hose had been left on and was flooding everywhere. When she unlocked the door, Moreno forced his way into her house with a knife. Over a period of approximately four hours, Mr. Moreno sexually assaulted the elderly victim. The victim found an opportunity to press her life alert necklace hanging in the bathroom. Fire and police personnel received the medical alert and immediately responded to the home.
“Crimes like these are always shocking,” said County Attorney Sheila Polk, “especially in a sleepy neighborhood in Cottonwood. This horrible case is a stark reminder to everyone to be careful about opening your door to strangers and about the importance of medical devices such as Life Alert. Everyone involved in this case, including the victim, is extremely grateful for the quick actions of the Cottonwood Fire and Police Departments in saving her life.”
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