A Honduran man, Angel Matias Castellanos-Orellana, has been detained by Kenner, Louisiana police, in connection with a series of violent crimes, including the assault and rape of a minor. The police were alerted on February 20 to the rape of a 14-year-old girl, allegedly committed by Castellanos-Orellana at knifepoint after they met on social media. The suspect, who was in the U.S. illegally, used multiple aliases, a practice reportedly common among undocumented immigrants.
Less than a week later, on February 25, authorities responded to a distress call at around 3:15 am regarding a stabbing incident in the 2600 block of Phoenix Street. The reported victim was approached by Castellanos-Orellana, who demanded his belongings and subsequently attacked, stabbing him multiple times in the face and back. The victim was later admitted to a hospital and is reportedly in stable condition.
Castellanos-Orellana was located at the scene of the crime, detained, and was later booked on charges of armed robbery, aggravated battery, first-degree rape, and aggravated assault — with a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer also being issued. According to Chief Keith Conley, these incidents underline the challenges local law enforcement faces when coping with crimes involving illegal immigrants, not least of which include false identification and limited access to integral data. Despite relief following Castellanos-Orellana’s arrest, the chief expressed concerns about the mounting strain on local law enforcement budgets and taxpayer dollars from illegal immigrant crime.
