Francisco Arce Montes
Encyclopedia
Francisco Xavier Arce Montes is a Spanish serial abuser and murderer who has been convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault
and sexual abuse
across Europe. Most of Montes's targets were around 11 or 12 years of age, and he is known to have committed assaults in Germany
, Spain
, France
, Holland, and the United States
.
Montes told investigators that he had a miserable childhood. He was born the only
son of middle class parents who ran a corner grocery store. During his teens, he began to obsess over his personal hygiene and began doing things such as operating doorknobs and light-switches with a handkerchief. At 20 Montes exposed himself
to a neighbor, and he was then diagnosed with depression
and "progressive schizophrenia
".
In 1981 Montes broke into the room of a girl in a youth hostel in the Netherlands
and "touched her sexually against her wishes". The girl, now a woman, testified against Montes during a trial in 2005. Montes was also jailed in Germany during the mid-1980s for armed rape
. Montes left a swath of other offenses across Europe.
Montes was tried and convicted for the murder of Caroline Dickinson, a Cornish
schoolgirl he attacked on July 18, 1996 in youth hostel in the small Breton town of Pleine-Fougères, France. He had been arrested in Miami Beach, Florida in 2001 on suspicion of nocturnal sexual assault of two Chilean backpackers, but state authorities put their proceedings in abeyance so as to extradite him to France. His arrest followed publicity surrounding the inquest held in Cornwall as a result of which his name was published in a national newspaper. Tommy Ontko, an immigration official at Detroit Airport, picked up an edition of this British newspaper and having read the story checked federal IT systems which eventually led him to the fact Montes was in custody in Miami Beach. Having confirmed as far as he was able this was so he contacted the French authorities.
The principal evidence against Montes was provided by DNA analysis. Montes was evaluated by a psychologist
, who told the court that he displayed evidence of the "evident, male pedophile attitude". During the trial, a statement was read from Montes's mother in which she disavowed him, saying that she would rather "sleep rough
" than share a house with him. Montes was sentenced to 30 years in prison on June 14, 2004. On appeal
a year later, Montes's conviction and sentence were upheld and he abandoned a subsequent further appeal.
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
and sexual abuse
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
across Europe. Most of Montes's targets were around 11 or 12 years of age, and he is known to have committed assaults in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Holland, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Montes told investigators that he had a miserable childhood. He was born the only
son of middle class parents who ran a corner grocery store. During his teens, he began to obsess over his personal hygiene and began doing things such as operating doorknobs and light-switches with a handkerchief. At 20 Montes exposed himself
Exhibitionism
Exhibitionism refers to a desire or compulsion to expose parts of one's body – specifically the genitals or buttocks of a man or woman, or the breasts of a woman – in a public or semi-public circumstance, in crowds or groups of friends or acquaintances, or to strangers...
to a neighbor, and he was then diagnosed with depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
and "progressive schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
".
In 1981 Montes broke into the room of a girl in a youth hostel in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and "touched her sexually against her wishes". The girl, now a woman, testified against Montes during a trial in 2005. Montes was also jailed in Germany during the mid-1980s for armed rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
. Montes left a swath of other offenses across Europe.
Montes was tried and convicted for the murder of Caroline Dickinson, a Cornish
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
schoolgirl he attacked on July 18, 1996 in youth hostel in the small Breton town of Pleine-Fougères, France. He had been arrested in Miami Beach, Florida in 2001 on suspicion of nocturnal sexual assault of two Chilean backpackers, but state authorities put their proceedings in abeyance so as to extradite him to France. His arrest followed publicity surrounding the inquest held in Cornwall as a result of which his name was published in a national newspaper. Tommy Ontko, an immigration official at Detroit Airport, picked up an edition of this British newspaper and having read the story checked federal IT systems which eventually led him to the fact Montes was in custody in Miami Beach. Having confirmed as far as he was able this was so he contacted the French authorities.
The principal evidence against Montes was provided by DNA analysis. Montes was evaluated by a psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
, who told the court that he displayed evidence of the "evident, male pedophile attitude". During the trial, a statement was read from Montes's mother in which she disavowed him, saying that she would rather "sleep rough
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
" than share a house with him. Montes was sentenced to 30 years in prison on June 14, 2004. On appeal
Appeal
An appeal is a petition for review of a case that has been decided by a court of law. The petition is made to a higher court for the purpose of overturning the lower court's decision....
a year later, Montes's conviction and sentence were upheld and he abandoned a subsequent further appeal.