An Odessa Police Department probable cause affidavit detailed a 35-year-old man was arrested after he assaulted his wife and a 15-year-old boy.
Jose Elias Rojas Betancourt was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (family violence), a second-degree felony.
The reported assaults happened around 10:08 p.m. April 19 in the 1000 block of W. 24th Street, the affidavit stated. Dispatch told officers the complainant, later identified as Yatzee Rojas, stated her husband, Betancourt, was intoxicated and she was hiding from him. Dispatch also stated a man could be heard yelling in the background.
Officers reportedly arrived at the scene and made contact with Rojas and Betancourt inside the residence. Rojas and an unidentified 15-year-old boy both stated they had been assaulted by Betancourt.
Rojas stated that Betancourt had come home drunk and started arguing with her about the keys to their car, the affidavit stated. Rojas stated she locked her bedroom door with the 15-year-old boy with her in the room because she was afraid of Betancourt.
Rojas reportedly told officers that Betancourt broke the door down and entered the room. Rojas stated that Betancourt had struck her with an open hand on her buttocks, which caused pain and redness. Rojas also stated that Betancourt had held a large kitchen knife up to her face in a threatening manner and stated “I don’t care about you.”
Rojas stated that while Betancourt was holding the knife, he pushed the 15-year-old boy as he was attempting to prevent Betancourt from striking Rojas, the affidavit detailed. Rojas stated that Betancourt put the knife down and once he exited the room she hid the knife under the mattress in her bedroom.
The 15-year-old boy reportedly told police he had just got out of the shower when Betancourt came home and was attempting to kick in Rojas’ bedroom door. The boy stated that after Betancourt broke the door down, Betancourt tried to stab Rojas with a broken piece of the door frame.
The 15-year-old stated that as he was attempting to calm Betancourt down Betancourt pushed him while holding a knife, the affidavit stated. The boy stated he saw Betancourt strike Rojas with an open hand on her buttocks.
Betancourt reportedly told officers that he, Rojas and the 15-year-old were arguing but denied any physical violence. Officers found the knife under the mattress in Rojas’ bedroom.
Betancourt was arrested, charged and transported to the Ector County Law Enforcement Center. He had two bonds totaling $80,000 and he posted bail on Wednesday, jail records show.
