Prison guard gets 18 years for rapes

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A judge sentenced a former correction officer who raped four female inmates to 18 years in prison after emotional pleas from his victims.

"I knew him as a monster, a liar a man who thought because of his position he was wanted by all but could do as he pleased," one of the victims said.

Anthony Townes pleaded guilty to four counts of rape and false imprisonment.

The rapes occurred between January and August of 2007 at Camino Nuevo, which is a privately run lockup for female state prison inmates.

Despite the guilty plea, Townes denies hit committed the crimes.

He told the judge Friday that the only reason he pleaded guilty was to avoid a longer prison term. He said the women are lying.

"There is no fear factor. I would never threaten anyone else's kids. I have a grandmother, mother a girlfriend, a sister and 4-year-old daughter, so therefore I would not do that to any woman because no woman deserves that," Townes said.

Townes faced 36 years in prison if he was convicted by a jury.