Joseph Apodaca to spend 36 years in prison. Courtesy photo

From the Office of the Attorney General:

—Victim Left For Dead in Parking Lot

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that Joseph Apodaca was sentenced to 36 years in prison for the extremely violent rape of a young woman he left for dead in Valencia County in 2014.

The victim almost died and will suffer medical issues for the rest of her life due to the brutal rape. In November, Apodaca was convicted on two counts of criminal sexual penetration in the first degree, and one count of tampering with evidence following a two week trial.

“I am thankful for the courage and perseverance of the young woman who suffered this horrific rape, and I hope she has some semblance of closure and justice now that we are sending Joseph Apodaca to prison for 36 years,” Balderas said. “Her life will never be the same, and it is a grave reminder that we must all work together to end sexual assault in New Mexico and punish violent criminals who perpetrate these crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”

Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Gilbert prosecuted the matter on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General and Second Judicial District Judge Alisa Hadfield presided over the case.