Christmas Eve Kidnap, Rape Reported in San Bernardino

The victim met one of the suspects at San Manuel Casino

Two San Bernardino men were arrested in connection with the reported kidnap and rape of a woman one of the suspects allegedly met Dec. 24 at San Manuel Casino.

Suspects Juan Donato, 21, and Jose Castillo, 40, were scheduled to appear in court Wednesday, Dec. 28.

The victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, told deputies from the Central Station that she met Donato at the casino in Highland and was walking to his car when the second suspect, Castillo, approached the two.

The suspects then forced the victim to ride with them to a private residence in the Del Rosa area of San Bernardino, according to a news release by the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department.

After arriving at the home, the victim said her assailants held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her while she was repeatedly raped.

Following the assault, Donato dropped the victim off in the casino’s parking structure, the department reported, after he told her he knows where she lives and threatened to kill her if she told anyone what happened.

The victim first reported the rape to a San Manuel security officer who was able to locate and detain Donato until a sheriff’s deputy arrived on scene at about 2 a.m. Upon further investigation, deputies said they tracked down and arrested Castillo at his home.

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The victim was treated for her injuries and released from a local hospital, according to sheriffs.

Donato was booked into Central Detention Center and Castillo into West Valley Detention Center. Both suspects are being held on $1 million bail.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Central Station at 909-387-3545.

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