Related articles:

Seven women lured with drugs then sexually assaulted

Other articles by Alexis Huicochea:

Cold Case : Daughter still hoping police will someday find her mother's killer City police widen use of e-citations Getting traffic ticket in Tucson speeds up Cold Cases Single-vehicle accident near I-10 and Ina clearedTucsonan killed near Benson was driving wrong way on I-10Golder Ranch fire station fire due to electrical problemBuena High School theft lands woman in prison Arivaca home-invasion reports released Off-duty TPD officer kills man who pulled gun on him

Health Care
Sierra Tucson
Eating Disorders Program Coordinator Administrative & Professional
Tucson Urban League
CEO/President Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic Health Care
Dependable Health Services
Physical Therapists Sales and Marketing
Everready Glass
Sales Reps

Police have arrested two men who they say lured at least seven women with the promise of methamphetamine and then "brutally" sexually assaulted them while holding them captive over several days.

Ignacio Esteban Rimer, 29, and Howard McMonigal, 34, are being held at the Pima County jail on suspicion of multiple charges including attempted murder, sexual assault and kidnapping.

Assistant Chief Roberto Villaseñor of the Tucson Police Department said the men targeted women at topless nightclubs. Two or three of the victims were dancers while the remaining victims were friends of the women.

The arrests stemmed from a traffic stop that was made in August in the area of West Grant and North Oracle roads, Villaseñor said. During the stop, evidence and information was obtained that indicated that activity including identity theft and property crimes was occurring.

The evidence led police to a mobile-home park in the 2600 block of South Cottonwood Lane, where McMonigal lives, Villaseñor said.

Tucson police would not elaborate but said that the investigation became "very complex" and they later learned that several women had been lured to the home and had been held against their wills, Villaseñor said.

"They came to the residence voluntarily under the promise that they would receive meth," he said. "Once they arrived after their shift was done, they were supplied with the narcotics, but then they were imprisoned, restrained and brutally sexually assaulted."

He would not give details on why the assaults were being called brutal except to say that "there were unusual circumstances that occurred that made these more brutal than normal."

The women went to the home on separate occasions but none reported the incidents to police voluntarily, Villaseñor said. Instead, police had to contact them when the facts were uncovered.

Some of the victims were able to escape, but police are still working to determine exactly how they all got out, Villaseñor said.

McMonigal and Rimer were arrested Oct. 5 after police served a search warrant at the mobile home. Inside the home, police found evidence of sexual assault, restraint devices and weapons, Villaseñor said.

Both men denied an interview request with the Arizona Daily Star on Thursday evening.

"We know that there are other victims and we hope that because we already have these men in jail, that those who have not come forward because of fear will now have the courage to do so," Villaseñor said.

Anyone who may be a victim or anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME, the anonymous tip line of the Pima County Attorney's Office.

According to Arizona Daily Star archives, Rimer and McMonigal were arrested in August in connection with the theft of construction machinery from the Interstate 10 widening project.

And both men have been arrested numerous times before that.

Rimer was released from the Arizona Department of Corrections four months ago after serving two years and seven months on aggravated assault and attempted armed robbery convictions.

Online court records show that he also has been arrested on a number of other charges including possession of drug paraphernalia, trafficking stolen property, weapons misconduct, a dangerous drug charge, and unlawful use of means of transportation.

McMonigal also did time in the Arizona Department of Corrections after being convicted of a dangerous drug violation. He served 1.5 years in prison before being released in September 2006.

Online court records for McMonigal indicate he has been arrested on charges of aggravated assault and theft, as well as dangerous drug charges and theft of means by transportation.