Felon Who Falsely Imprisoned 2 Women In MoVal Released On Probation

MORENO VALLEY, CA — A felon who held two women in his Moreno Valley residence until they were able to escape was on probation Monday.

Gilberto Murillo Puga Jr., 54, pleaded guilty last month to two counts of false imprisonment under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney's Office. In exchange for Puga's admissions, six related felony and misdemeanor counts against him were dismissed.

During a hearing Friday at the Riverside Hall of Justice, Superior Court Judge Gary Polk certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense -- 24 months of mandatory supervision in lieu of jail. The judge also ordered Puga to pay victim restitution in an amount to be determined by the Department of Probation and vetted by the court.

According to sheriff's Investigator Jomar Vanderhoof, on the morning of May 14, patrol deputies were called to Puga's house in the 26000 block of Prairie Dog Lane, just west of Nason Street, in Moreno Valley to investigate reports of a burglary.

Vanderhoof said that as deputies were heading to the location, 911 dispatchers received another call from witnesses saying two women "were at Puga's residence, screaming for help."

"Upon arrival, deputies located the two females walking away from Puga's residence," the sheriff's spokesman said. "Puga was uncooperative with deputies and left the location. The investigation revealed that the two females had not burglarized Puga's residence, but had been locked in the residence, held against their will and tortured."

The victims' identities were not disclosed. Court documents indicated that Puga was in possession of a stun gun that he used on the women. There was no explanation for why they were in the house, or any other details regarding how they knew the defendant.

Detectives obtained a warrant for Puga's arrest, and he was taken into custody without incident the following day in Hemet.

Court records show he has prior convictions for vehicle theft, battery on a peace officer and driving under the influence.