Man Arrested in Connection to Rapes Near New Mexico Casino

New Mexico authorities have arrested a man they believe is involved with at least three rapes that took place after the women were picked up outside Downs Racetrack & Casino on Louisiana Boulevard in Albuquerque. 

The Man Arrested 

The man arrested in connection with the alleged crimes is 35-year-old Josue Macias. Police arrested him this past Saturday. He was linked to a silver Volkswagen Jetta, which police discovered after they used a license plate scanner to help identify vehicles in and around the area. 

Macias was initially arrested on an outstanding traffic warrant and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center. 

Now, Macias has been charged with second-degree criminal sexual penetration, kidnapping, and assault with intent to commit a violent felony. 

More on the Case

According to police, Macias is believed to have used his vehicle to approach women near Downs Racetrack & Casino, offer them a ride, take them to another location, threaten them with a box cutter or knife, and rape them. 

The license plate reader discovered the vehicle, which is believed to be where the rapes occurred, too. 

Macias has stated that he paid the women for sex and used the sharp object in response to them demanding more money. 

Police confronted Macias at a hair salon in Southwest Albuquerque.

“Josue? Can you step outside real quick?” an officer said to Macias on the bodycam footage. “Don’t reach into your pockets just yet, let’s go outside and talk real quick, okay?”

Macias appeared in court on Monday for the first time. According to KRQE, the state has now filed for pre-trial detention, and no hearing date has been set. 

Recent Casino-Related Assault Cases

Several cases of sexual assault in and around casinos have been in the news this year.

Earlier this year, news came out that the man sentenced for his role in a sexual assault at Bally's in Atlantic City, New Jersey, may have his sentence reduced  after a February 2018 case. 

Additionally, earlier this week, a former Indiana county commissioner was sentenced to at least six years in prison for his role in sexually assaulting his daughter at a Las Vegas, Nevada casino in June 2024.