Crime & Safety

Man Accused in Brutal Hate Crime Attack Pleads Not Guilty

The attack left the victim with serious head and face injuries.

A 36-year-old man accused of beating up another man in San Mateo earlier this month due to the victim's sexual orientation has pleaded not guilty to the crime, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said Monday.

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Santos Manuel Marquez-Montiagudo, who is in custody in lieu of $1,000,000 bail, pleaded not guilty in San Mateo County Superior Court on Friday in connection with the July 20 attack.

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Officers found the 55-year-old victim suffering from serious injuries to his head and face in the early morning hours of July 20, San Mateo Police Sgt. Dave Norris said.

The victim and his friend had met up with the defendant, Santos Manuel Marquez-Montiagudo, at a taqueria in the area of Third and El Dorado Street in San Mateo.

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At the taqueria, Marquez-Montiagudo learned the victim is bisexual, and he left the taqueria with the victim and the victim's friend to drink elsewhere.

Marquez-Montiagudo told the victim to not walk with him because "he didn't want people to think that he was gay," Wagstaffe said.

When he victim refused to leave, the victim and Marquez-Montiagudo began to fight. Marquez-Montiagudo grabbed a U-lock from his bike and beat the victim, Wagstaffe said.

Emergency personnel were called and transported the victim to the nearest trauma center, where he was treated for his extensive injuries and is expected to survive.

San Mateo detectives worked over the following days to reconstruct the events leading up to the attack, and identified 36-year-old San Mateo resident Marquez-Montiagudo as the alleged attacker.

At about 5 p.m. on July 24, SMPD detectives attempted to contact Marquez-Montiagudo at a residence in the 300 block of North Humboldt Street.

Marquez-Montiagudo tried to flee through a window, and after a short chase and search, he was located and arrested without further incident.

The weapon Marquez-Montiagudo allegedly used to perpetrate the vicious attack, a large bicycle "U-Lock," was also recovered and seized.

Marquez-Montiagudo was booked into San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated mayhem, and perpetration of a hate crime.

Marquez-Montiagudo is due back in court on Aug. 8 for his preliminary hearing.


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