Man criminally charged in Bannock County after allegedly threatening woman’s life, forcing her to participate in ‘blood pact’
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POCATELLO — A local man is facing felony charges after police say he threatened a woman’s life, kicked her cats, and forced her to participate in a “blood pact.”
Max Mauricio Sanchez, 23, is charged with one count each of aggravated assault and robbery, both felonies, and one count each of false imprisonment and cruelty to animals, both misdemeanors.
Court documents say that officers with the Pocatello Police Department responded to the Portneuf Medical Center on Tuesday to interview a woman who wanted to report the alleged crimes.
The woman told the officers that she had been in a relationship with Sanchez for a period of about a year and is currently pregnant with his child, the police report states. But she said she ended their relationship on Sept. 28 due to Sanchez’s alleged aggressive behavior. After separating, the woman said she had been staying with a friend.
The woman told the officers that at some point she received a Snapchat video that she says showed Sanchez kicking her two cats, which had remained at the apartment she previously shared with Sanchez. Police say he told them she waited until she believed Sanchez would be at work, then went back to the residence to retrieve the animals. But when she got to the residence, she said Sanchez was there.
According to the woman’s statements to police, Sanchez became aggressive and began accusing her of being romantically involved with other men. During the argument, Sanchez allegedly made multiple threats to shoot or seriously injure the woman.
The woman reported Sanchez allegedly told her, “If you were with another n*****, I’d literally like, I’ll f***ing shoot you.” She said Sanchez followed the statement with, “You’re lucky you have our baby because I would have shot you already. I would have bashed your head in and turned you into a f***ing vegetable.”
Court documents say Sanchez then took the woman’s cellphone and started searching through it. She said that when she told Sanchez she was going to call 911 using her Apple Watch, he forcibly removed the watch from her.
After taking the watch, the police report says Sanchez pointed at a firearm lying on a table and said, “I’m trying so hard not to f***ing shoot you right now.”
The woman reported that Sanchez then handed her a knife and demanded that she participate in a “blood pact” to prove her loyalty to him. She said he directed her to cut herself and would complain that the cuts were not deep enough, court documents state. After the woman made a minor cut to her left hand, she said Sanchez told her the “blood pact” was insufficient proof of her loyalty.
She told police she was able to convince Sanchez to take her to Portneuf Medical Center under the pretense that she needed a medical examination to disprove Sanchez’s alleged accusations of infidelity. Once there, the woman said she was able to discreetly notify staff that she needed help.
Medical staff assisted in separating the woman and Sanchez and contacted law enforcement.
After taking statements from the woman, the officers determined there was sufficient probable cause to arrest Sanchez.
If found guilty of the charges, Sanchez could face up to 11 and a half years in prison and may be required to pay fines of up to $65,000.
Sanchez is being represented by a public defender. The Idaho State Public Defender’s Office does not comment on active cases.
Sanchez is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 19 for a preliminary hearing.
Although Sanchez has been accused of these crimes, that does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.