| For Immediate Release December 12th, 2005 |
Contact: | Susan Kang Schroeder Deputy District Attorney (714) 347-8408 Office (714) 292-2718 Cell |
GARDEN GROVE MAN CHARGED WITH RAPING AND BRUTALLY BEATING UNCONSCIOUS A 73-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER WHO WAS GATHERING RECYCLABLES
WESTMINSTER – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office charged Patrick Daniel Piceno, 21, of Garden Grove, with forcible rape resulting in great bodily injury. He was in court for the first time on these charges last Friday in West Justice Center, W-14, Westminster, California. He is scheduled to be arraigned on January 13, 2005 in the same court. Piceno remains in custody on $1 million bail. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in state prison to life.
The victim, 73, lived in Orange County with her husband, children and grandchildren. The Vietnamese grandmother worked very early every morning to collect recyclables in order to supplement her income including the date of May 31, 2005 at about 5 a.m.
The defendant is accused of pushing the victim from behind and up against the wall. He is accused of punching her face and body repeatedly. She was rendered unconscious as a result of the attack and found around 30 minutes later by a trash man. The trash man opened the dumpster bin doors to access the two dumpsters inside and found the victim left for dead on the ground between the dumpsters. The victim suffered severe facial bruising, lacerations, and swelling; bleeding in brain; bruising on arms & legs; and sexual injuries.
Defendant is accused of fleeing to Mexico soon after the crime occurred and cutting his long hair to a Mohawk to change his appearance. He was later linked to the crime through DNA evidence. He was arrested on December 6, 2005 by Garden Grove Police who investigated this case. Senior Deputy District Attorney Dan Hess in the Sexual Assaults Unit is prosecuting this case.
###