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Copyright © 2018 Albuquerque Journal

The court’s public safety assessment tool recommended that an Albuquerque man accused of terrorizing a disabled woman while holding her captive in her home for about a month be released with minimal conditions while he awaits trial.

But state District Judge Cindy Leos disagreed, saying she could not think of any conditions that would keep the woman safe, and ordered that 32-year-old Phillip Perez remain behind bars.

“The alleged victim in this case is limited in her mobility, … she was preyed upon by Mr. Perez, at least based on the allegations in the complaint,” Leos said. “She was terrified to take any action to protect herself or to get away. I’m concerned that Mr. Perez will go back.”

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The judge agreed with the state’s recommendation for pre-trial detention for Perez, though the public safety assessment had recommended his release with minimal conditions based in part on his limited criminal record.

The hearing was delayed, however, when Perez tripped and fell on his way to his seat in the courtroom.

Perez had just entered, accompanied by a transport officer, and was being taken to the jury box to wait alongside other inmates for his hearing. He was wearing leg shackles and handcuffs and fell forward to the ground.

The officer first attempted to help him up, but he was left on the floor until his condition could be assessed. The judge quickly told the officers to call for medical assistance and Perez was eventually helped to a sitting position.

The fall delayed his and several of the other defendants’ hearings as court officials awaited the arrival of emergency medical personnel.

The medical crew appeared to evaluate Perez on scene and did not transport him for additional care. Instead, he remained for his hearing.

Perez’s attorney argued that the court could impose conditions, like GPS monitoring, that would keep the community safe, and said there was no proof that his client was a flight risk.

Perez is facing charges including kidnapping, aggravated battery, aggravated stalking and intimidation of a witness.

He is set for a hearing before a grand jury next week.

According to police, the 53-year-old woman agreed to let Perez live with her because he had been kind and helpful to her. But Perez soon became aggressive, threatening and violent.

Over the next month or so, he prevented the woman, who uses a wheelchair and has one arm, from leaving her North Valley home to seek help, and threatened to kill her if she ever contacted police, according to court documents.

He threw knives at her and beat her, sold many of her belongings and destroyed others, police said. Prosecutors said Tuesday that physical damage to the apartment corroborates her story.

Some information was provided by Journal photo editor Dean Hanson.