READING — Several felony charges were filed against a Worthington resident earlier this week after a victim told police he threatened to burn down their home.
The victim said that Bryan Bautista Duarte, 25, had been stalking them, calling from restricted phone numbers and threatening the lives of the victim's family. The victim was afraid of Bautista Duarte and had decided to move to another state to escape him, but he found out about that plan and confronted the victim. He allegedly placed the blade of a box cutter against the victim's stomach.
About a month ago, Bautista Duarte had come to the victim's home under the guise of helping the victim clean the house in preparation for moving. During their interaction, Bautista Duarte reportedly lifted his shirt to show that he had a knife in his waistband and told the victim, "This is going to be your last day," adding that no one would know where the victim was.
The victim further detailed that on Saturday, Bautista Duarte had demanded a sum of cash that he believed the victim owed him, and when the victim would not give him the money, he entered the home and broke the victim's TV. Later, he allegedly called the victim and said that if they did not pay him, he would burn down their home.
Bautista Duarte was located in a vehicle and pulled over for a traffic stop, but got out and ran from police. A K-9 unit tracked him down in Worthington.
ADVERTISEMENT
He was arrested and charged with eight felony offenses: stalking; two counts second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of domestic assault, two counts of threats of violence with an intent to terrorize and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. He also faces misdemeanor charges of fleeing a peace officer by means other than a motor vehicle and fourth-degree property damage.
Since November 2020, Bautista Duarte has been convicted in three separate domestic violence-related criminal cases involving the same victim.
He is being held in Nobles County Jail on bail set at $200,000 with conditions or $400,000 without. His initial court appearance is set for next week.
The Southwest Crisis Center is available in our community to support and empower survivors of sexual and domestic violence. For questions about services or how you can help, contact the Southwest Crisis Center at 1-800-376-4311 or mnswcc.org .
