| For Immediate Release Case # 11NF0948 March 28, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
OCDA FILES ADDITIONAL CHARGES AGAINST PROFESSIONAL CLOWN FOR COLD CASE RAPE
OF 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN 2002
*Orange County District Attorney is seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims
SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office filed additional charges today against a professional clown for raping a 12-year-old girl in 2002. Jose Guadalupe Jimenez, 41, Anaheim, is charged with two felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, one felony count of aggravated sexual assault of a child, and one felony count of forcible lewd act on a child under 14. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted on all counts. Jimenez was arrested Friday, March 25, 2011, by the Fullerton Police Department and is being held on $1 million bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned today, March 28, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.
Jimenez is a professional clown who goes by the name of “El Tin Larin,” an occupation which regularly allowed him access to children.
On the night of Jan. 19, 2002, Jimenez, dressed as a clown, is accused of approaching 12-year-old Jane Doe outside of the Taco Bell on Lemon Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue in Fullerton. He is accused of grabbing Jane Doe by the wrists, pulling her into his car, and driving the victim to an area near Ladera Vista Junior High School. He is accused of raping her inside the car. Jimenez is accused of then driving Jane Doe to a hotel in Fullerton. As soon as Jimenez parked the car, the victim was able to escape and run to a convenience store for help. Fullerton Police were contacted and a DNA sample was collected and entered into the local and National DNA banks.
Jimenez has an open case (Case # 10NM14083) for corporal injury on a child from November 2010 and is being prosecuted by the Anaheim City Attorney’s Office. The defendant’s DNA was taken for this case and in February 2011, the Orange County Sheriff Forensic Science Services linked Jimenez to the 2002 cold case.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794.
Deputy District Attorney Katherine David of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
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