Man Charged in Santa Ana Serial Rapes

A forklift operator accused of a string of brutal rapes that terrorized Santa Ana until his arrest last week was charged Tuesday with 33 violent offenses, including rape, sodomy and kidnapping.

Eduardo Alberto Guzman, 22, of Santa Ana could face seven lifetime sentences--plus an additional 300 years--if convicted of the crimes, a prosecutor said after Guzman’s first court appearance.

Guzman was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, but the proceeding was postponed until Nov. 17 at his attorney’s request. Public Defender Hector Chaparro refused to comment about the case.

Guzman’s parents, brother and girlfriend sat together in the spectators’ gallery, saying little as Deputy Dist. Atty. Edward Flores announced the charges.

After the hearing, they rushed out of the courtroom, refusing to comment.

“I’m not going to say anything,” the suspect’s 17-year-old girlfriend said as she hurried to the elevator. On the day of Guzman’s arrest, she had insisted that he was innocent and that he was at home with her watching videos or sleeping when the rapist struck.

Guzman’s alleged crime spree began July 14, when, according to police and prosecutors, he raped, sodomized and robbed his first victim.

It was the first of eight attacks that would cause panic in a 30-block area around Bristol and 17th streets in northern Santa Ana.

The victims were all assaulted as they walked alone in gated apartment complexes in the area. Investigators said that in nearly every attack, the rapist drew a knife and threatened to kill his victims. The women were forced to secluded areas of their complexes, where they were assaulted and robbed, authorities said.

Among the charges against Guzman: three counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, three counts of kidnapping, two counts of attempted kidnapping, three counts of sodomy, six counts of kidnapping to commit rape, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and five counts of second-degree robbery.

If convicted, Guzman must undergo a blood test to see if he is HIV-positive, according to the felony complaint.

Guzman is being held at the Santa Ana Detention Facility without bail.