Fifteen years after he allegedly raped a woman in Wendover, Nestor Carrillo Mendoza made the Elko County most wanted list.
Implemented this year by Sheriff Jim Pitts the ‘Most Wanted’ list is distributed to new media though out the county.
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Mendoza along with Eleno Carrillo are accused in the 1997 rape of a Wendover woman at a local hotel room. While both were arrested shortly after the crime both jumped bail.
Last November Carrillo was visiting Wendover, Utah when an anonymous caller tipped off police that the man wanted for so long had come home.
Arrested Carrillo was bound over to trial earlier this January.
Despite spending more than 15 years on the run, Carrillo was granted and posted bail, said West Wendover Police Sergeant David Wiskerchen.
“He made bail after his arrest this November,” Wiskerchen said Wednesday. “And showed up for his preliminary hearing January 4th. So we are hopeful he will show up if the case goes to trial.
Now 37, Carrillo was 22 at the time of the alleged rape. his accomplice Mendoza still remains at large and his whereabouts unknown.
But while Carrillo seems to be ready to have his day in court after 15 years the case against him may be not be as strong as it once was.
Sexual assault crimes are very difficult to prosecute even under the best circumstances with 15 soon to be 16 years since the alleged attack witnesses forget, evidence degrades and the opening for reasonable doubt only grows larger.
Mendoza is described as a Hispanic male adult, born May 25, 1980. He is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone having information regarding the whereabouts of Nestor Carrillo Mendoza may contact the Elko County Sheriff’s Office at 777.2514, Elko Dispatch at 777.7300, Secret Witness at 738.4357 or your local law enforcement agency.
