Man charged after allegedly raping woman at Nashville motel

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A man is facing rape charges after a woman alleges he forced her into a motel room and assaulted her in March.

According to the arrest affidavit, a woman contacted the Metro Nashville Police Department on April 1 claiming 22-year-old Jose Antonio Menjivar-Abrego sexually assaulted her at a motel near the Nashville International Airport on March 21.

The woman told detectives that she became acquainted with Menjivar-Abrego online and when he learned that she was looking for work, he agreed to hire her, according to the affidavit. On the day she was to begin working for him, Menjivar-Abrego said they would go to lunch but drove her to the Regency Inn Express on McGavock Pike instead, the affidavit states.

Once at the motel, the woman said she was forced into a room against her will, and Menjivar-Abrego began grabbing her despite her protests and repeatedly saying, “No,” according to the affidavit. He took off her clothes and threw her on the bed, causing her to hit her face on the bed frame, she said. He then sexually assaulted her, the affidavit states.

The woman provided a picture of her injury to detectives and text messages following the incident. The text exchange shows Menjivar-Abrego acknowledging what happened and offering to still work with her, but he understood if she was mad at him, according to the affidavit. He even offered to marry her in an effort to “fix” their situation, his texts read in the report.

Detectives had enough evidence to arrest Menjivar-Abrego and took him into custody on Tuesday, May 14. He is charged with aggravated rape causing bodily injury and aggravated kidnapping. He remains in custody on a $150,000 bond and also is being held on a hold by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).