What to Know
- A DNA match led police to identifying the suspect, and the victim identified the man in a lineup as her alleged attacker, police said.
- The man is next due in court April 12 for a pretrial hearing.
A 31-year-old Santa Ana man accused of kidnapping, torturing and raping a woman last November pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony charges.
Sebastian Mardoqueo Vicente Alvarez was charged Thursday with rape, sexual penetration by foreign object, torture and kidnapping to commit rape, along with a misdemeanor count of false imprisonment.
Alvarez picked up the victim at Hazard Avenue and Bewley Street about 3:20 a.m. Nov. 17 and drove her to the 5000 block of 17th Street, where he allegedly raped, gagged and choked her, according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
A DNA match led police to identifying him as the suspect, and the victim identified him in a lineup as her alleged attacker, Bertagna said, adding that Alvarez's car was seen in the area on surveillance video.
A Santa Ana police officer located the suspect on Saturday and arrested him on a warrant charging him with the attack, Bertagna said.
Alvarez is next due in court April 12 for a pretrial hearing at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.
