Washington Man Enters a Not Guilty Plea after Kidnapping

CALDWELL, Idaho (AP) — A Washington man in custody on charges that he kidnapped and tortured a woman in Caldwell has pleaded not guilty to an enhancement to the current charges.

The Idaho Press-Tribune reports that Arturo Hector Mendoza was charged with aggravated assault, battery and kidnapping. On Friday, he pleaded not guilty to an additional "persistent violator" enhancement.

The enhancement means if he's convicted on the other charges, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. Mendoza was a fugitive from Washington when he was arrested in February.

Caldwell police say a woman who had taken Mendoza's phone out of spite, agreed to meet him at a gas station. Police say when Mendoza arrived, her rammed his car into hers, eventually dragged her out and beat repeatedly her at a house. She escaped and police later captured Mendoza.