Peeping, Attempted Burglary Charges Filed Against Arlington Man

ARLINGTON, VA — An Arlington man was arrested after police said a woman reported seeing a man peering through a window and trying to enter her home on Columbia Pike on Friday night.

The incident was reported at about 9 p.m., in the 4200 block of Columbia Pike, according to Arlington County police. Police said the woman was inside her residence when she heard a noise and saw a man allegedly looking through a window and attempting to enter through a door and a window before leaving.

Police said officers broadcast a lookout, and a responding officer found a person matching the suspect’s description in the area and took him into custody.

Jose Montero Santamaria, 49, of Arlington, was arrested and charged with peeping, attempted burglary and public intoxication, according to police. He was released on his own recognizance.

Santamaria is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday, at 2 p.m in Arlington General District Court, according to court records. No preliminary hearing has been scheduled.

While the peeping and public intoxication charges are misdemeanors, the attempted burglary charge is a felony, under the Code of Virginia. If convicted of attempted burglary, Santamaria faces a possible sentenece of one to 20 years in prison or, at the discretion of the court, up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500.