FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – A New Mexico man is arraigned Wednesday, accused of kidnapping members of a migrant family and holding them hostage.
The Fresno County DA’s Office charging 31-year-old Christian Guadalupe Ortiz Coronado of Los Lunas, New Mexico for the kidnapping for ransom of five victims last week in Fresno.
Ortiz Coronado is accused of taking a mother and her two young children hostage.
Police say it took place after he told their family –including two adult males that he wanted more money for bringing them to Fresno from the Mexican border.
When family members were unable to pay the additional funds, Ortiz Coronado left the County of Fresno with the victims, including a 9-year-old child.
Ortiz Coronado only returned with the victims upon promise of payment.
Police tracked him down and arrested him on August 25, 2023, in Fresno,
Ortiz Coronado faces other charges including human trafficking and child abuse.
The Felony Complaint filed in the Superior Court alleges that Christian Guadalupe Ortiz Coronado committed:
• Four (4) Counts of KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM [Penal Code §209(a)];
• One (1) Count of ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM [Penal Code §664/209(a)]
• One (1) Count of ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING [Penal Code §664/207(a)];
• Two (2) Counts of CHILD ABUSE [Penal Code §273a(a)].
Ortiz Coronado was arraigned Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Fresno County Superior Court.
If he is convicted of all charges and allegations, Ortiz Coronado faces life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.
