Man charged with rape of teen

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) - Rio Rancho police have arrested a man they said threatened a group of teens with a gun and then raped one of them.

They arrested Bobby Lucero, 27, at his workplace Thursday night and charged him with rape, kidnapping and aggravated assault.

Lt. Paul Rogers said the victim was hanging out with some friends outside her Rio Rancho home at around 1 a.m. on Friday. Detectives said a man walked up to the group, pulled out a gun and gave the boys strict orders.

“The person with the gun told the three males to leave the area,” Rogers said.

Rogers said they did and ran to a nearby park where they called police. During that time, detectives said the man assaulted the girl.

“At that time she had told us she had been sexually assaulted by the person with the gun,” Rogers said.

Detectives sent out a sketch of the suspect hours after the assault. A few days later, they got a break in the case when a woman called police and said her friend ran into a threatening man with a gun.

“He was being very aggressive toward her and that gave her reason to kind of fear for her own safety,” Rogers said.

Police said that woman was not raped but told detectives enough information to lead them to Lucero.

Rogers said after searching Lucero’s home and car they were convinced he was the armed rapist. Detectives called the girl’s parents to tell them the news.

“Let their fears subside,” Rogers said. “They didn't have anything to worry about in the near future from this suspect.”