Local investigators suspect a man accused of raping a
Watsonville woman throughout the weekend may be an illegal
immigrant and they have involved federal immigration authorities to
help pinpoint where he is a citizen, a sheriff’s office spokesman
confirmed. Police allege that on Friday night, Roberto Carranza,
36, bound, gagged and repeatedly raped the 40-year-old woman before
she escaped through a window Tuesday and sought help.
HOLLISTER
Local investigators suspect a man accused of raping a Watsonville woman throughout the weekend may be an illegal immigrant and they have involved federal immigration authorities to help pinpoint where he is a citizen, a sheriff’s office spokesman confirmed.
Police allege that on Friday night, Roberto Carranza, 36, bound, gagged and repeatedly raped the 40-year-old woman before she escaped through a window Tuesday and sought help.
Authorities initially announced he was from the county, at the residence near Aromas on Chittenden Road where they believe he raped the woman. But sheriff’s Lt. Roy Iler today confirmed Carranza is not from San Benito County and that a comprehensive database search on the suspect throughout the nation came up empty.
“When you’re 36 years old, you’re known somewhere,” Iler said.
That leads authorities to believe he likely is not a U.S. citizen and now they will await confirmation from federal immigration officials. Carranza remains at the San Benito County Jail with bail set at $150,000.
Investigators forwarded the case to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he said. Regardless of the result, however, it would not affect the criminal proceedings. Even if immigration concludes he is an illegal immigrant, Carranza would remain in the state justice system until after a potential conviction and prison term.
Look back for more on this story.
