Judge merges charges on kidnapping

STAFF REPORT

A Curry County district court judge ruled Tuesday that 22 aggravated battery counts against a Fort Sumner man also facing an April kidnapping charge be merged into one count.

During the motion hearing to dismiss counts three through 24 of the grand jury indictments against Robert M. Sena, 26, Judge Drew Tatum delivered the ruling.

Tatum’s ruling cuts the previous 27 counts against Sena to five: Kidnapping, aggravated battery with a gun, aggravated battery with a knife, aggravated battery to a different (second) victim and aggravated fleeing of a police officer.

A jury trial is slated Sept. 20.

link Robert Sena

According to Clovis police reports:

• Around 1:40 a.m. April 27, 2016, officers attempted to stop a car which failed to yield at a stop sign on Ninth and Prince Streets. The vehicle was seen crashing through a fence on Grand Street and Industrial Drive.

• Responding to the crash site, police found a 27-year-old woman who sustained at least 23 stab wounds. The woman said she was at a residence on the 500 block of 11th Street when Sena kicked in the door carrying a knife and handgun. She said a fight ensued between Sena and the 28-year-old male in the home, with Sena proceeding to stab both of them while forcibly removing her from the home. According to district attorney’s office, Sena “at one time had a dating relationship” with the female stabbing victim.