Suspect in 2 Rapes Is Charged

Suspected serial rapist Jose Zavala of Thousand Oaks was charged Tuesday with two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape, as a local congressman questioned how an illegal immigrant already deported twice could sneak back into the country and may have tormented a community.

Zavala, 21, appeared for his arraignment Tuesday in jail blues, betraying no emotion as prosecutors prepared charges that could send him to jail for a term ranging from 25 years to life.

Authorities think Zavala specifically sought out older women who lived alone near his Old Town neighborhood. He is accused of raping a 64-year-old woman who lives in the Thunderbird Oaks mobile home park on Jan. 25, and a 57-year-old last Thursday at the Camelot condominium complex.

He was arrested Saturday after reportedly breaking into a a 44-year-old woman’s house on Sunset Drive. When two other residents in the house came to the victim’s aid, Zavala dove headfirst through a closed window and fled on foot, sheriff’s deputies said.

A police dog followed the trail of blood that led from the window to Zavala, who was found hiding under a car a few blocks away, deputies said.

Sgt. David Paige of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department said the two most recent victims have positively identified Zavala as their assailant after seeing him in a police lineup. The Jan. 25 victim has tentatively identified Zavala from a group of six photos.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Patricia Murphy, who supervises the prosecutor’s sexual assault unit, said that Zavala had been deported twice but that she was unaware of the circumstances. Paige said Zavala was sent to Mexico after serving 30 days in County Jail for an April 1994 conviction of battery.

A few months earlier, in January 1994, Zavala was convicted of sexual battery and served 30 days, Paige said. He was not deported at that time. Paige did not know when Zavala had been deported a second time.

Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) said he is outraged that an illegal immigrant may be responsible for the trail of terror in one of the nation’s safest cities.

“All it does is make my blood boil,” said the politician who is known for his tough stance on illegal immigration. “I don’t need any more I-told-you-so’s. . . . I don’t think I need to be vindicated on that.”

In addition to the rape and attempted rape charges, the district attorney’s office has filed five counts of residential burglary, as well as special allegations that make Zavala eligible for a steeper sentence. After Zavala’s arrest Saturday, investigators said they found property at his Crescent Way house belonging to the mobile home victim, whose residence was broken into a week after the rape.

Zavala also has two other charges pending, including a felony drug count, Murphy said, though she was unfamiliar with the details.

In court, Deputy Public Defender Bruce Freed asked that the media not be allowed to photograph Zavala. He said because members of the public are likely to testify about seeing Zavala in the community, pictures of the suspect in his jail-issued outfit could be prejudicial.

Judge Steve Hintz, however, said he had no problem with the cameras’ presence. Zavala sat up straight and glanced frequently at news photographers gathered against one wall. He did not enter a plea Tuesday; his arraignment was postponed until March 7.

Bail remains at $1 million for the rape charges. Freed argued that the amount is “tantamount to setting no bail” and is even steeper than that imposed on a murder suspect.

Outside the courtroom, Murphy said the high bail is justified. “The crimes alleged are extremely serious,” she said.

Gallegly said a six-month trial program he initiated in county jails in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Orange counties last November might help prevent similar occurrences in the future.

As part of the program, Border Patrol agents are verifying the immigration status of people accused of crimes. Illegal immigrants are identified and, after they have served their sentences, formally deported. If they return to the United States, they face prosecution for a felony. Gallegly said he is attempting to extend the program.

“In the case of Thousand Oaks,” Gallegly said, “it’s women who are the victims, and we’ve got to start focusing our energy on the victims.”

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Correspondent Nick Green contributed to this story.