| For Immediate Release Case # 04CF3110
January 27, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
INTERNATIONAL SERIAL RAPIST SENTENCED TO
61 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT OF THREE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WOMEN
AFTER BEING EXTRADITED FROM AUSTRIA
AFTER INTERPOL DNA HIT
*Defendant was featured on the OCDA’s “Most Wanted” list
SANTA ANA – An international serial rapist was sentenced today to 61 years to life in state prison for sexually assaulting three Southern California women after being captured in Austria in 2010 following a DNA match through INTERPOL. The defendant was featured on the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) Most Wanted list.
Ali Achekzai, 34, formerly of Ladera Ranch, was found guilty by a jury Dec. 15, 2011, of two felony counts of forcible rape, two felony count of sexual penetration by foreign object by force, one felony count of aggravated assault, one felony count of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense, and sentencing enhancements and allegations for committing sexual crimes against more than one victim and causing great bodily injury to a victim. The OCDA prosecuted the defendant for rapes and assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense (see below) that occurred in both Orange and San Diego Counties.
The Tustin Police Department (TPD) was the lead investigating agency in this case and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) coordinated the defendant’s arrest and extradition.
Deputy District Attorney Robert Mestman prosecuted this case.
Rape of Jane Doe #1
On Jan. 31, 2004, Achekzai met 21-year-old Jane Doe #1 at a nightclub in Laguna Beach. Shortly before 4:00 a.m., Jane Doe #1 observed the defendant following her in his car as she was driving on Jamboree Road toward Tustin. The defendant followed Jane Doe #1 as she drove around and attempted to get away from him. Achekzai pulled up near Jane Doe #1 in his car and yelled for her to pull over because he wanted to talk to her about something important.
Jane Doe #1 parked in a fast food restaurant lot and got into Achekzai’s car. The defendant lured her under the pretense of warning her about another man she had met at the nightclub. The victim became scared, got out of his car, and attempted to run away. Achekzai chased and caught Jane Doe #1 and eventually led her back to her car.
Once they were in the victim’s car, the defendant grabbed Jane Doe #1 by the neck, held her down, digitally penetrated and forcibly raped her. He then got back into his car and drove away.