FINAL DEFENDANT IN THE BLACK STAR CANYON ATTACKS IS SENTENCED TO 32 YEARS IN PRISON

FINAL DEFENDANT IN THE BLACK STAR CANYON ATTACKS IS SENTENCED TO 32 YEARS IN PRISON

Santa Ana – The final defendant convicted of the Black Star Canyon attacks, Cuahutemoc Torres, 21, of Orange, was sentenced to 32 years in state prison today. Torres was convicted of two counts of rape and assault with a deadly weapon, along with more than a dozen other charges including kidnapping, vehicular burglary and carjacking for his role in the Black Star Canyon attacks on two boys and the gang rapes of two young girls.

In November 2003, Torres’ accomplices Erick Oswaldo Dominguez, 22, of Anaheim and Jesus Rene Green, 18, of Orange, were sentenced to 91 years to life in state prison. Green was 15 years old at the time of the attacks. He was charged and prosecuted as an adult.

In February 2002, two juveniles pled guilty and were sentenced on nine felony counts, including kidnapping, assault, vehicular burglary, carjacking, robbery and malicious mischief, for their roles in the attacks. The juveniles did not participate in the rapes and are serving time in the California Youth Authority, until they are 25 years old.

The incidents occurred in the early morning hours of July 3, 2001 in the remote canyon located near the city of Orange. The victims had gone to Black Star Canyon for a moonlight walk. When the victims returned to their car they found that it had been vandalized. Soon after, five teenagers approached them at first pretending to help. Instead Torres, Dominguez and Green began pummeling the two boys with rocks and a metal rod. Torres, Dominguez and Green then gang raped the 13- and 15-year-old girls.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Jeff Levy prosecuted these cases.