| For Immediate Release Case #11HF1885 July 22, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
OCDA SEEKS PUBLIC’S HELP IN IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF MAN CHARGED WITH THREE SEXUAL ASSAULTS OF WOMEN IN IRVINE AND NEWPORT BEACH
NEWPORT BEACH – The Orange County District Attorney is seeking the public’s help in identifying potential additional victims of a man who was charged today with the sexual assaults of three women in the cities of Irvine and Newport Beach. Travis Dewayne Batten, Jr., 29, Irvine, was arraigned this afternoon on three felony counts of forcible rape, two felony counts of assault with intent to commit sexual offense during commission of first degree burglary, two felony counts of forcible oral copulation, and one felony count each of assault with intent to commit sexual offense, sodomy by force, sexual penetration by foreign object by force, dissuading a witness by force or threat, kidnapping to commit rape, and first degree residential burglary. He is also charged with sentencing enhancement allegations for committing sexual offenses during the commission of a burglary, tying up or binding a person, and sexual assault of multiple victims. If convicted, Batten faces a sentence ranging from 157 years to life up to 204 years to life in state prison. He is being held without bail and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing, August 1, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.
Between May 2005 and July 2010, Batten is accused breaking into the residences of three women he did not know while wearing a mask. He is accused of raping two Irvine women and sexually assaulting a third living in Newport Beach. Both Irvine attacks occurred at residences in the same apartment complex, Amherst Apartments. Prior to both Irvine attacks, residents contacted police reporting a suspicious man and/or vehicle in and around the area.
At approximately 9:00 p.m. on May 20, 2005, Batten, then-23, is accused of wearing a mask and breaking into the Newport Beach residence of 40-year-old Jane Doe #1 while she was out. When the victim arrived home, the defendant is accused of attacking her and throwing Jane Doe #1 to the ground. Batten is accused of forcing the victim to her bedroom, duct taping her hands and over her mouth, and sexually assaulting the victim. He is accused of sexually assaulting Jane Doe #1’s breasts and vagina. Batten is then accused of punching the victim twice in the head and threatening the victim by stating he would come back and get her if she contacted police. He is accused of fleeing the scene. Jane Doe #1 called 911.
Newport Beach Police Department officers responded to the scene and investigated the case. Batten is accused of leaving DNA at the scene, which was collected by police, processed by Orange County Crime Lab (OCCL), and entered in the local and State DNA databases.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2006, Batten is accused of wearing a dark mask and breaking into the Irvine apartment of 21-year-old Jane Doe #2. While the victim was showering, the defendant is accused of waiting outside of the victim’s bathroom. He is accused of raping Jane Doe #2 as he exited her bathroom throwing her to the ground and tying her hands. Batten is accused of sodomizing the victim and raping her a second time. Before fleeing the scene, the defendant ordered the victim to get into the shower and not to contact police. Jane Doe #2 called 911.
Irvine Police Department (IPD) officers investigated the case. Batten is accused of leaving DNA at the scene, which was processed by OCCL.