Santa Ana man sentenced for raping two women and stabbing one of them

Orange County District Attorney Press Release, For Immediate Release: September 11, 2012

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 LINKED THROUGH DNA SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT OF TWO WOMEN AND STABBING ONE OF THE VICTIMS IN THE HEAD

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted and sentenced today for sexually assaulting two women and stabbing one of them in the head after luring or pulling them into his car. Juan Carlos Quintas, 31, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty yesterday, Sept. 10, 2012, to one felony count of forced oral copulation for Jane Doe #1, one felony count of forcible rape for Jane Doe #2, and two felony counts of aggravated assault with a knife. He was sentenced to seven years in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration. The sentence was a negotiated plea between the People and the defense, taking into consideration the wishes of the victims.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. on May 8, 2008, 26-year-old Jane Doe #2 was walking on Harbor Boulevard approaching McFadden Avenue in Costa Mesa. Quintas drove up to the victim in a red pick-up truck and offered to give Jane Doe #2 a ride. The victim got into the car and directed Quintas to a Motel 6 on Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa, where she had a room. Quintas drove away and parked in a secluded commercial parking lot. He pulled out a switchblade knife and pushed it against Jane Doe #2’s neck. Quintas demanded, “sex or money, b****,” and then forced the victim at knife point to undress.

Quintas forcibly raped the victim as she struggled to get away. He pulled away, gripped his knife, and stabbed the victim in the left temple. Quintas pulled the knife out from the victim’s head, cut her face from her neck to her cheek, and stabbed her in the stomach as Jane Doe #2 fought for her life. Jane Doe #2 was able to escape naked from the car and run to the parking lot of a nearby motel. She was transported to Western Medical Center, treated for her injuries, and given a sexual assault examination. As a result of this attack, the Costa Mesa Police Department released a bulletin to other law enforcement agencies with a description of the crime, defendant, and car.

At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 21, 2008, 23-year-old Jane Doe #1 was walking on Harbor Boulevard in Santa Ana. Quintas pulled up in his truck, parked at the curb, and ran up to the victim. He grabbed her by the neck and held a 4-inch knife to her. Quintas demanded sex or money and then forced Jane Doe #1 into the passenger seat of his truck. He parked in an industrial area, climbed over the seat, and forcibly orally copulated the victim at knife point. Quintas cut Jane Doe #1’s hands as she struggled to get away and escape. Jane Doe #1 was taken to the hospital and a police report was filed.

On Aug. 30, 2008, officers from the Santa Ana Police Department saw a truck matching the description of Quintas from a law enforcement bulletin. The officers pulled over the car and arrested Quintas for driving without a valid license. A DNA swab was subsequently taken and the defendant was linked to the assaults against Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2.

Quintas’ lifetime sex offender registration bars him from entering County recreational areas and City parks that have passed the Sex Offender Ordinance, with exception to Irvine. Visit www.orangecountyda.com to read the prior press releases on the County’s Sex Offender Ordinance as well as the 13 other cities that have enacted the Child Safety Zone Ordinance including Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, La Habra, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Westminster, and Yorba Linda.

Senior Deputy District Nicole Nicholson of the Sexual Assault Unit prosecuted this case.

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