Free Republic

Contemplating the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison, Felix Montoya wrote a letter to the judge, explaining he had made a "big mistake" the night he got high on drugs and alcohol and raped a 5-year-old girl. On Tuesday Lackawanna County Judge Michael Barrasse referred to Mr. Montoya's letter before handing down a life sentence, plus 20 to 40 years more. "It was more than a big mistake," Judge Barrasse said. "It was a heinous and brutal crime." Mr. Montoya, a native of Colombia who came to the United States via Costa Rica, listened to a...

Family members have described rape suspect Felix E. Montoya as a short-tempered man prone to violent outbursts, new information that justified increasing his bail to $500,000, a prosecutor said Tuesday. Magisterial District Judge Alyce Farrell granted a request for bail modification for Mr. Montoya, more than doubling the original amount of $200,000, after receiving details about the Taylor man's violent home life, First Assistant District Attorney Gene Talerico said. While Mr. Montoya remains in the Lackawanna County Prison, the public has inundated the district attorney's office with gifts and offers of assistance for the 5-year-old girl he is accused of...

TAYLOR - A 40-year-old man has been charged in the brutal rape and attempted murder of a 5-year-old girl after a holiday picnic at her family's home, police said. Felix E. Montoya, of 270 Tamworth Drive, was discovered half-clothed in the child's bedroom early Sunday by a shocked family who kept him at bay until police arrived. He was charged with rape of a child, attempted homicide and other offenses. The victim was treated at a hospital for injuries to her face and head, adult bite marks on her thigh and shoulder and severe rape-related injuries, according the criminal complaint....