Reymundo Abel Blanco, 31, Fortville
HANCOCK COUNTY — A domestic violence case has landed a man in the county jail where he is facing multiple violent and serious felony crimes.
Reymundo Abel Blanco, 31, who has a Texas operator’s license but reports say was living in a Fortville home, has been charged with 15 crimes in all. The charges include a Level 4 felony count of kidnapping, a Level 5 felony count of intimidation, a Level 5 felony count of unlawful carrying of a handgun with a prior felony conviction within the last 15 years, and 12 different Level 6 felony counts of domestic battery, intimidation, confinement and other crimes from an incident in February of this year.
The case against Blanco was originally opened in February, according to court records. That’s when a protection order was put in place and a $40,000 cash bond was set against him in Hancock County Circuit Court by Judge Scott Sirk.
However, the charges have since been amended, and Blanco is now facing more crimes. Blanco was back in Circuit Court on Monday afternoon to face an initial hearing on the amended charges. Court records state the bond was kept the same and show a jury trial has been set for August this summer.
According to a probable cause affidavit, officials from the Fortville Police Department were called to a home on E. Staat Street on Feb. 17 where they found a victim holding her nose, which officials say was bleeding profusely.
Officials noted in the report the room where the victim was located was in disarray and the officer could see blood on the ground. A male, later identified as Blanco was sitting on the couch breathing heavy and appeared sweaty, the report stated. Blanco informed the officer he lived at the residence and he and a woman who lived there had gotten into an argument over their child, who had passed away.
The report went on to say Blanco accused the victim of striking herself and causing her injuries. However, officials noted Blanco had blood on his left and right hands, marks on his left-hand knuckles and there was also blood on his pants.
A relative of the victim stepped forward and told police the victim was actually held at gunpoint and almost drowned in the bathroom during the incident, the report stated. When a relative asked Blanco why he beat up the victim, the relative told police Blanco was mad and accused the victim of cheating on him, the report stated.
The report noted Blanco had not only punched the victim in the face, breaking her glasses, but threw her into a wall, causing her to hit her head on a bathtub. Blanco then, according to the report, tried to drown her and was holding a gun to her head, threatening to kill her. The victim told officials that Blanco punched and kicked her repeatedly.
Officials reported in the affidavit they found three firearms at the residence, including the one they believe Blanco used to threaten the life of the victim. The report also noted children were present at the home during the incident.
