Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Arrests Seneca Man on Kidnapping and Weapon Charges

Martin Altamirano Pena Altamirano

(Walhalla, SC)--------------------------------------A Seneca man was arrested today by the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office on Kidnapping and weapon charges in an investigation in which the victims were two teenagers.

50 year old Martin Altamirano Pena Altamirano, of E. Main Street, was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center around 2:52pm today. Altamirano has been charged with two counts of Kidnapping, two counts of Pointing and Presenting a Firearm and one count of Possession of a Weapon during Commission of a Violent Crime.

At this time, Altamirano remains in jail as his bond was denied on all five charges. Altamirano will appear before a Circuit Court judge, at a later time, in regards to his bond.

The Sheriff’s Office investigation began after deputies from the Uniform Patrol Bureau responded to the Dollar General on Highlands Highway in Mountain Rest Thursday evening in reference to a disturbance call. During the call, the deputies discovered two teenagers inside of the store who advised an employee that they had been kidnapped and asked the employee to call 911.

According to evidence obtained during the investigation, the teenagers were forced to get into a pickup truck driven by Altamirano near East South Sixth Street and E. Main Street in Seneca. After driving around, the teenagers were given money and sent into the store in Mountain Rest to purchase snacks and drinks. During the course of the kidnapping, Altamirano was in possession of a firearm that he pointed at both teenagers.

The teenagers were given a ride back to a family member’s residence near Seneca by deputies after they left the Mountain Rest business. The teenagers were then transported to the hospital for evaluation as a precautionary measure.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation. In order to preserve the integrity of the investigation, and that of the victims due to the victims being minors under the law, the Sheriff’s Office will not release any information that could, either directly or indirectly, identify the victims in this case.