Santa Ana Man Charged in Sexual Assault of 75-Year-Old Woman

TUSTIN (CNS) - A 24-year-old Santa Ana man on probation was charged today with attempting to kill and rape a 75-year-old woman.

Fernando Valdovinos was charged with attempted murder with a sentencing enhancement for attempted premeditated murder, sexual penetration by a foreign object and force, attempted forcible rape and carjacking, all felonies. He also faces sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury during a sex offense and causing great bodily injury on an elder.

Valdovinos was arrested Saturday afternoon after officers saw three people in the victim's stolen car, according to Tustin police.

A 16-year-old girl, who was on probation for robbery, was booked in juvenile hall on suspicion of carjacking and conspiracy, police said.

Police were called at 10:30 a.m. Friday to 600 W. Sixth St. to help a partially nude, unresponsive woman in the bushes near a parking lot. The victim had “extensive facial injuries,” police said.

The victim was rushed to a hospital, where she remains in critical condition, police said.

Valdovinos is accused of striking the victim multiple times in the face before sexually assaulting her, and after the attack he and the teen allegedly stole the victim's vehicle, police said.

Police suspect the woman was attacked Thursday night and was left in the parking lot until she was found about 14 hours later.

Valdovinos pleaded guilty in July 2019 to car theft, possession of burglary tools and driving without a valid license, all misdemeanors and was on three years of probation, according to court records.


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