Santa Ana man convicted of burglary and and sexually assaulting girls

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release: November 15, 2012
Case # 10CF1242
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

MAN CONVICTED OF TOUCHING SLEEPING FEMALES IN FIVE HOME BURGLARIES, INCLUDING SEXUALLY ASSAULTING AN 11 AND 13 YEAR OLD GIRL

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted today of breaking into five Orange County homes and touching female victims who were sleeping inside, including sexually assaulting an 11 and 13 year old girl. Roberto Jacobo Reyes, 49, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of forcible lewd act on a child under 14, two felony counts of lewd act upon child under 14, and three felony counts of first degree residential burglary with sentencing enhancement allegations for committing lewd acts in the commission of residential burglaries, committing lewd acts on multiple victims, and for having a non-accomplice present during a residential burglary, and a sentencing enhancement for a 2003 prior strike for residential burglary. Reyes faces a maximum sentence of 194 years to life in state prison at his sentencing January 25, 2013, in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At approximately 11:00 p.m. on Feb. 19, 2010, Reyes entered the bedroom of 11-year-old Jane Doe #1 through a bedroom window while she slept. Jane Doe #1 awoke and Reyes held down the victim and covered her mouth so she was unable to scream. He fondled the victim’s vagina and breasts over her clothes. Jane Doe #1 was able to escape by kicking and pushing the defendant, who fled the home back out through the open window. Jane Doe #1 immediately told a relative, who called 911. The Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) collected DNA evidence at the scene.

At approximately 1:00 a.m. on Jan. 24, 2010, Reyes broke into 13-year-old Jane Doe #2’s Santa Ana residence. Reyes rubbed Jane Doe #2 down the side of her body while she was sleeping. He woke Jane Doe #2, who immediately screamed. Reyes fled the scene through the back door. The victim’s mother called 911.

At approximately 3:50 a.m. on Oct. 25, 2009, Reyes entered the bedroom of 19-year-old Jane Doe #3 in Santa Ana through a bedroom window. The defendant woke the sleeping victim by rubbing her thighs and arms. The terrified Jane Doe #3 kicked at the defendant, who fled the scene back out the bedroom window. Jane Doe #3 called police.

At approximately 5:00 a.m. on July 12, 2009, Reyes broke into 22-year-old Jane Doe #4’s Santa Ana residence while she was sleeping with her boyfriend. The defendant reached through the window and touched the foot of the victim, waking her. The victim screamed and the defendant fled the scene. Jane Doe #4 called 911.

At approximately 2:35 a.m. on Jan. 11, 2009, Reyes broke into the home of 7-year-old Jane Doe #5 through a rear window and entering the bedroom that the victim shared with two younger siblings. Reyes woke the victim by tickling her and tugging on her blanket. Jane Doe #5 began to scream and kick the defendant, who fled from the home back through the open window. Fingerprints were collected from the crime scene.

On May 7, 2010, the DNA collected at the crime scene involving Jane Doe #1 was linked to Reyes’ DNA. The defendant had previously submitted a DNA sample as a result of the 2003 burglary conviction. The defendant was sentenced to four years in state prison for that case and was deported back to Mexico upon completing his sentence. The defendant illegally returned to Orange County and committed these crimes. Reyes was linked to the crimes surrounding the other victims through additional evidence, including the fingerprints at the home of Jane Doe #5, collected during the investigation by SAPD.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Robert Mestman is prosecuting this case.

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

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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