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Second suspect in Planada kidnap, rape case apprehended
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The Merced County Sheriff’s Department has arrested a second Planada man in the kidnapping and rape of a Los Angeles woman.

The 26-year-old victim was kidnapped at knifepoint Jan. 4 from her Los Angeles home and taken to a shack in Planada, where she was sexually assaulted by her brother, Apolinar Cortez, 48, of Planada, according to the sheriff’s department.

The sheriff’s department previously stated a second man assisted Cortez in the kidnapping and on Wednesday they apprehended Feliciano San-Agostin, 40, in connection with the case, sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Tom MacKenzie said.

Agostin was arrested for conspiracy, kidnapping and making terrorist threats.

The two men drove the victim to Cortez’s Planada residence in the 100 block of Topeka Avenue and locked her into a shack on the property, MacKenzie said.

According to the sheriff’s department, Cortez raped his sister after Agostin had left.

The victim was kept trapped in the shack until Sunday morning, at which time she made her escape while Cortez was out eating breakfast. He was arrested outside a Planada store and later during questioning allegedly confessed to the crimes. Cortez stated he was in love with his sister, according to the sheriff’s department. The victim is the biological sister of Cortez.

Agostin came to the attention of the sheriff’s department after Cortez’s former boss saw the story in the newspaper, accompanied with Cortez’s mug shot.

“He knew the second suspect used to hang out with Cortez and also knew they were headed to Los Angeles at the time of the incident,” MacKenzie said.

Agostin was questioned by sheriff’s investigators and allegedly confessed to helping plan and carry out the kidnapping.

“He said he was responsible for keeping lookout and controlling the victim on the drive home by making threats,” MacKenzie said.

Agostin remains in custody in lieu of a $155,000 bail.