Calif. women reportedly held hostage and tortured by convicted felon

MORENO VALLEY, Calif. (TCD) — Police arrested a 53-year-old man accused of holding two women hostage and staging it as a burglary.

According to a news release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, on Sunday, May 14, at approximately 9:22 a.m., Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to a home on the 26000 block of Prairie Dog Lane to a report of a burglary. Gilberto Puga told authorities that “two females burglarized his residence.”

The Sheriff’s Office said, “Dispatch received an additional call for service regarding two females who were at Puga’s residence screaming for help.”

Upon deputies’ arrival, they reportedly discovered two women walking away from Puga’s home. The Sheriff’s Office noted Puga was “uncooperative with deputies and left the location.”

The Sheriff’s Office determined Puga was not a victim of a burglary. Instead, he allegedly held the women against their will and tortured them.

According to KABC-TV, Puga allegedly assaulted the victims with a stun gun.

On Monday, May 15, Hemet Police arrested Puga, and he was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside County on charges of false imprisonment and torture. His bail was set at $1 million.

Puga was previously convicted for vehicle theft, battery on a peace officer, and driving under the influence.

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