OXNARD : Man Receives Prison Sentence in Rape Case

An Oxnard man on Thursday was sentenced to three years in state prison in connection with a rape case in which the victim later denied she was sexually assaulted.

Dale Chester, 22, agreed earlier this month to plead guilty to one count of rape with the condition that he would probably receive a three-year prison sentence.

Before the plea bargain, Chester faced up to 39 years in prison on two counts of rape and one count of oral copulation.

The plea bargain stemmed from a July 3 rape of a 20-year-old woman in Pleasant Valley Park in Camarillo. The woman initially reported that Chester raped her at gunpoint, but three days later recanted her story.

Prosecutors first tried Chester in the case in October, but the jury deadlocked on the three counts after the woman testified that she was never raped. She said she made up the allegation to get Chester in trouble. The woman was dating Chester’s brother at the time.

Prosecutors were prepared to retry Chester in the case, but agreed to plea bargain on the morning the second trial was to start.

After Thursday’s sentencing, Deputy Dist. Atty. Lela M. Henke-Dobroth said she is satisfied knowing Chester will spend time in prison.

Chester’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Robert K. Willey, has said his client did not want to go to trial and face the maximum prison sentence.

Chester is expected to be free in about 13 months with time off for good behavior and credit for nearly six months already served, attorneys in the case said.