Man Convicted of Raping 6 Women
A Burbank construction worker was convicted Wednesday on 31 charges of raping and torturing six prostitutes in a string of incidents last year.
Vincent Paul Fanelli, 38, was found guilty by the jury after several weeks of testimony, authorities said.
Fanelli, who will be sentenced Feb. 26, could receive more than 200 years in prison.
His attorney argued that the women testified against Fanelli only because he had refused to pay them.
According to court testimony, Fanelli would pick up the women in his station wagon, lock the doors and then choke, slap and rape them.
Police learned about the incidents while they were investigating the killing of a prostitute at a local hotel. A group of prostitutes pulled the detectives to the side and told them about the attacks which they said happened last March and April.
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.
