A Sterling man is in custody after he allegedly held a woman and five children against their will the night of Monday, April 16.
Antonio Hernandez Gomez, 31, returned to his home on Maple Avenue where he lives with several other tenants. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kraig Troxell said five of those residents are children and they are not all related.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, at around 4 p.m., Gomez inappropriately touched a 28-year-old female resident in the kitchen of their home.
The female, whom Gomez is not related to, attempted to break free and told her son to call 911, but the suspect damaged the house phone before the son could get to it.
The female then locked herself and the five children, not all of whom were hers, in a bedroom. The suspect continued to threaten the victim through the bedroom door for two hours.
One hour later, the female reached her husband on a cell phone, and at 6 p.m., he returned home.
"I’m not sure why she didn’t call 911 from her cell phone," Troxell said.
Gomez allegedly waved a knife back and forth at the husband of the 28-year-old victim before he fled the residence.
"They managed to get the house phone working and called authorities," Troxell said.
Shortly after, Sheriff’s Office deputies found Gomez hiding in a shed outside the home.
Gomez was charged with abduction, sexual assault and damaging a telephone to prevent summoning of law enforcement. He is being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center in Leesburg.