Maricopa County attorney Bill Montgomery was overcome with emotion as he told reporters about a child abuse indictment against a Mesa mom and her friend.
A grand jury handed up the 12-count indictment late Monday. It includes charges of kidnapping, sexual conduct with a minor, and child abuse. Mesa police arrested Mayra Solis and Francisco Javier Rios-Covarrubias last week. Officers said they rescued a 3-year-old girl from a closet, where she was bound with duct tape.
Montgomery called the case “absolutely heartbreaking.”
“We have done so much in this state to affect the circumstances in which children come into the care of the state and in which the state becomes aware of them being in harm’s way,” he said. “We've made tremendous progress, but there are times when we can't get to them until after they have been harmed.”
Montgomery explained why the Mesa abuse case hits home. He says he grew up under difficult circumstances, but friends’ families and neighbors showed him kindness. That has influenced his life.
“I have been so committed to wanting to fight for the most vulnerable and defenseless in our community, who should receive that kind of care and compassion instead of what they all too often are faced with,” Montgomery said.
A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday.
