CAMARILLO : DNA Match Found With Rape Suspect
DNA testing shows that saliva found on a teen-age girl after she was raped during the holdup of a Camarillo yogurt shop matches the man charged with the assault and robbery, a prosecutor said Monday.
Also on Monday, defendant Christopher Bass of Goleta pleaded not guilty to a 20-count indictment that charges him in a string of robberies last summer, including the one at the yogurt shop in which two teen-age girls were sexually assaulted.
Bass is charged with armed robbery at four pizza shops in Thousand Oaks before the Camarillo yogurt store holdup. Keith Groom, 21, of Simi Valley is charged with participating in two of those robberies, as well as a separate pizza shop holdup in Thousand Oaks in June.
Jury trials for both men have been set for Jan. 30.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Maeve Fox said that saliva found on the teen-age rape victim shortly after she was attacked Aug. 29 matches Bass’ genetic code.
Bass acted alone in the sexual assaults at the yogurt shop, authorities said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
