Irvine man to face trial for raping two women in Irvine and Newport Beach

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 11HF1885: March 17, 2014

MAN TO FACE TRIAL FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO WOMEN IN IRVINE AND NEWPORT BEACH

SANTA ANA – A man is scheduled to face trial tomorrow for the sexual assaults of two women in Irvine and Newport Beach. Travis Dewayne Batten, Jr., 31, Irvine, is charged with two felony counts of forcible rape, one felony count each of assault with intent to commit a sexual offense, assault with intent to commit a sexual offense during the commission of first degree burglary, sodomy by force, sexual penetration by foreign object by force, dissuading a witness by force or threat, kidnapping to commit a sex offense, and first degree residential burglary. He also faces sentencing enhancement allegations for committing sexual offenses during the commission of a burglary and tying up or binding a person. If convicted, Batten faces a maximum sentence of 176 years to life in state prison. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, March 18, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. in Department C-27, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Between May 2005 and November 2006, Batten is accused of breaking into the residences of two women, whom he did not know, while wearing a mask. He is accused of raping an Irvine woman and sexually assaulting a woman who lived in Newport Beach.

At approximately 9:00 p.m. on May 20, 2005, Batten, then-23, is accused of wearing a mask and breaking into the Newport Beach residence of 40-year-old Jane Doe #1 while she was out. When the victim arrived home, the defendant is accused of attacking her and throwing Jane Doe #1 to the ground. Batten is accused of forcing the victim to her bedroom and duct taping her hands and mouth. He is accused of sexually assaulting Jane Doe #1’s breasts and vagina. Batten is then accused of punching the victim twice in the head and threatening the victim by stating he would come back and get her if she contacted police. He is accused of fleeing the scene. Jane Doe #1 called 911.

Newport Beach Police Department officers responded to the scene and investigated the case. Batten is accused of leaving DNA at the scene, which was collected by police, processed by Orange County Crime Laboratory (OCCL), and entered in the local DNA database.

At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2006, Batten is accused of wearing a dark mask and breaking into the Irvine apartment of 21-year-old Jane Doe #2. While the victim was showering, the defendant is accused of waiting outside of the victim’s bathroom. He is accused of raping Jane Doe #2 as she exited her bathroom after throwing her to the ground and tying her hands. Batten is accused of sodomizing the victim and raping her a second time. Before fleeing the scene, the defendant ordered the victim to get into the shower and not contact police.

Irvine Police Department (IPD) officers investigated the case. Batten is accused of leaving DNA at the scene, which was processed by OCCL and entered into the local DNA database. The DNA was matched to the DNA collected in the 2005 sexual assault.

Based on the DNA, the two sexual assaults were linked to the same person. Batten was linked to the crimes as a result of further investigation and arrested July 21, 2011, while driving to Fletcher Jones Motorcars dealership in Newport Beach, where he worked as a mechanic.

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