DNA links man to 2001 cold-case rape of woman he kidnapped from a bus stop

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 12CF1024: May 23, 2014

MAN LINKED THROUGH DNA TO 2001 COLD-CASE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF WOMAN HE KIDNAPPED FROM BUS STOP TO FACE TRIAL

SANTA ANA – A man faces a jury trial Tuesday for kidnapping a woman from a bus stop and forcibly sexually assaulting her in his car in a 2001 cold-case after being linked to the crime through DNA using the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) local DNA database. Raul Moreno-Perez, 34, is charged with one felony count each of kidnapping to commit a sexual offense, forcible oral copulation, and sentencing enhancement allegations for increasing the risk of harm by kidnapping and kidnapping to commit a sexual offense. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 34 years to life in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. Opening statements are expected to begin Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-36, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Circumstances of the Sexual Assault

At approximately 8:00 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2001, 19-year-old Jane Doe was waiting at a bus stop on Main Street in Orange. Moreno-Perez is accused of driving up in his vehicle and stopping his car near Jane Doe. He is accused of asking the victim if she wanted a ride and then driving away when she declined.

Several minutes later, Moreno-Perez is accused of returning to the bus stop and getting out of his car to sit on the bench next to Jane Doe. He is accused of putting his arm around the victim and telling her that he wanted to take her home. Jane Doe refused and Moreno-Perez is accused of then forcing the victim to stand up and get into his car.

Moreno-Perez is accused of slapping Jane Doe as she tried to resist and driving her to a parking lot behind a grocery store in Garden Grove. When Jane Doe got out of the parked car and attempted to escape, Moreno-Perez is accused of chasing and pushing her before forcing her back to the car. Once back inside the vehicle, Moreno-Perez is accused of forcing Jane Doe to orally copulate him.

Jane Doe was finally able to escape and reported the sexual assault to the Orange Police Department (OPD), who investigated the case. Evidence was collected, including DNA, but the case went cold. The Orange County Crime Laboratory created a DNA profile of the unknown offender at that time.

On March 30, 2012, a day after Moreno-Perez’s DNA was entered into the local OCDA’s local DNA database due to an unrelated case, the defendant was linked to the sexual assault of Jane Doe based on a match to evidence collected at the scene in 2001. The OCDA immediately notified OPD about the sexual assault DNA hit. The defendant was located at his girlfriend’s Fontana home and was arrested April 10, 2012, by OPD.

Deputy District Attorney Whitney Bokosky of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.

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Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Contacts:

Susan Kang Schroeder
Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Farrah Emami
Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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