A Gainesville man was sentenced to life in prison after an investigation and trial determined the man was guilty of domestic violence against his wife, sparked from an incident in Jan. 2022.
Ruben Rodriguez-Soto, 38, of Gainesville was sentenced to life in prison by Senior Judge Ott in the Northeastern Judicial Circuit after being found guilty of kidnapping with bodily injury and aggravated battery - family violence, according to District Attorney Lee Darragh.
This follows a trial that kicked off the week of Aug. 21, focusing on events that occurred in Jan. 2022 between Rodriguez-Soto and his wife.
On Jan. 18, 2022, former investigator, now school resource officer, Marciela Del Rio with the Gainesville Police Department opened an investigation into Rodriguez-Soto after officers were dispatched to a residence on Cottonwood Trail. The call was for an “assault in progress,” according to the DA’s office.
The wife of Rodriguez-Soto, Wendy Barron-Salcido, was interviewed at the scene, where she reportedly described a domestic violence incident.
Rodriguez-Soto allegedly grabbed Barron-Salcido when she arrived home from work that day and forced her into his vehicle. At that time, he locked the car doors and drove away. While driving, Rodriguez-Soto punched Barron-Salcido multiple times in the face and screamed at her. He also “continued to push her head and injured her right thumb in order to take her phone from her,” the DA’s office said Tuesday.
The pair had recently separated and had a 9-year-old daughter as well.
Rodriguez-Soto eventually drove Barron-Salcido back home after threatening her. Her sister-in-law was reportedly waiting outside once they arrived. Once Barron-Salcido got into her sister-in-law's vehicle, they called authorities and Rodriguez-Soto left the scene, according to officials.
Barron-Salcido suffered a laceration and swelling to her nose, as well as a laceration to her lip and swelling in her right thumb, Darragh said. She was taken to the hospital that night to be treated.
On Jan. 21, 2022, Rodriguez-Soto was arrested when the Gainesville Police Department was notified he had shown back up to Barron-Salcido’s residence. While interviewing Rodriguez-Soto, he admitted to putting Barron-Salcido in his car and striking her. He also admitted to telling her that “if she had been honest with him, none of this would have happened.”
Rodriguez-Soto then stated “he knew what he did was wrong,” and that he thought she was cheating on him, according to the DA’s office.
Over the course of the investigation, it was reportedly discovered that Rodriguez-Soto had previously committed domestic violence against Barron-Salcido prior to this incident.
Rodriguez-Soto was found guilty by a jury on all presented counts and sentenced to life in prison.
