A man accused of sexually torturing and killing a Salt Lake County woman last spring pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual assault.
Ben Fidel Salazar, 49, entered the pleas before 3rd District Judge Richard Moffat, who scheduled a trial for March 20.Salazar, also known as Bobby Sandoval, is accused of killing Charlotte Montoya, 48, in her apartment at 1679 W. Thornhill Drive on March 28. According to the charges, Montoya had been strangled and had suffered serious injury from being raped with an object. The charges allege the slaying was "especially heinous" because it was accompanied by "physical torture, serious physical abuse or serious bodily injury to the victim."
Police in New Mexico arrested Salazar a few days later.