Man charged with violently attacking 5 women in a 5 hour crime spree

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # TBA: January 21, 2014

MAN CHARGED WITH ATTACKING FIVE WOMEN IN VIOLENT 5-HOUR CRIME SPREE

WESTMINSTER – A man has been charged with attacking five women, including stabbing three in the head, face, or back, in a 5-hour crime spree. Ulises Omar De La Torre, 32, Buena Park, is charged with one felony count of kidnapping to commit rape, two felony counts of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense, and three felony counts of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense in the commission of first degree burglary. He faces sentencing enhancements for causing great bodily injury, great bodily injury to a sexual assault victim, the use of a deadly weapon during a sexual offense, and two prior strike convictions from 2004 for attempted murder and street terrorism. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 244 years to life in state prison. The People will be requesting De La Torre be held without bail. He is expected to be arraigned today, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, at 1:30 p.m., in Department W-2, West Justice Center, Westminster.

Between approximately 5:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2014, De La Torre is accused of attacking five women in the Cities of Anaheim and Garden Grove. The victims were all attacked within a short distance of one another.

De La Torre is accused of passing Jane Doe #1 as she was walking home from work and attempting to engage her in conversation. After she passed, De La Torre is accused of hitting her in the back of the head with his fist, repeatedly beating her, and at some point attempting to pull down the victim’s pants. He is accused of fleeing the scene.

De La Torre is accused of entering the home of Jane Doe #2 and grabbing the victim as she arrived and entered her house. He is accused of stabbing the victim in the arm and back as she struggled. Jane Doe #2’s boyfriend walked inside the home, and De La Torre is accused of fleeing the scene.

Jane Doe #3 and Jane Doe #4 were in the hallway of their hotel attempting to enter their room. De La Torre is accused of being in the hallway and attempting to force his way into the room when the victims opened the door. He is accused of stabbing the victims as they screamed and struggled to get away, including in the head, face, and arms. The defendant is accused of fleeing the scene.

De La Torre is accused of passing Jane Doe #5 while she was jogging in Garden Grove. The victim observed the shadow of a person following her and turned around. When she turned, De La Torre is accused of punching her in the face and knocking her down. He is accused of punching her repeatedly and pulling at her clothes. De La Torre is accused of fleeing the scene as Jane Doe #5 was screaming.

The Anaheim Police Department and Garden Grove Police Department investigated this case and identified the defendant, and De La Torre was arrested Jan. 18, 2014.

Deputy District Attorney Bobby Taghavi 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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