Professional clown arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, rape
A professional clown was arrested Friday on suspicion of kidnapping and raping a girl nine years ago in Fullerton.
Jose Guadalupe Jimenez, 41, of Anaheim was arrested in connection with the Jan. 19, 2002, crimes, in which a man dressed as a clown kidnapped and raped a 12-year-old girl.
The suspect grabbed the girl from the corner of Lemon Street and Commonwealth Avenue, drove her to a nearby school parking lot and raped her, said Sgt. Andrew Goodrich of the Fullerton Police Department.
The man then took her to a motel off Harbor Boulevard and molested her again. The girl escaped when he left the car to speak with the motel clerk.
When the police conducted their original investigation, the only physical description was of a male Latino wearing a clown mask and clown makeup.
Forensic experts collected DNA from the girl and it was eventually placed in the state database, awaiting a possible match.
Goodrich said Jimenez was arrested in 2010 on other charges, and his DNA was submitted to the database.
Detectives learned last month that they had a hit, confirming that Jimenez was the suspect in the 2002 case. Jimenez was arrested in Newport Beach.
Jimenez has been working as a professional clown for nine years, using the name “El Tin Larin.” He is 5 feet 6 and weighs 195 pounds, and has brown hair and eyes.
“Who knows how many other possible victims there might be,” Goodrich said. “We’re hoping that any past victims might recognize him, both with or without his clown makeup, and come forward.”
Police are asking anyone with information to call Det. Kathryn Hamel at (714) 738-5327 or the Fullerton Police Department at (714) 738-6800.
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