Alleged rapist in clown suit pleads not guilty

A man accused of raping a 12-year-old girl while dressed as a clown pleaded not guilty to four related counts at the Men’s Central Jail in Santa Ana on Friday.

Jose Jimenez was arrested in Newport Beach in March, more than nine years after he allegedly committed the crimes. Detectives said DNA evidence linked him to the Jan. 19, 2002 incident.

Jiminez allegedly grabbed the girl from a corner in Fullerton, drove her to a nearby school parking lot and raped her, Fullerton Police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich told KTLA.

He is charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child, one count of a forcible lewd act upon a child and two counts of lewd or lascvious acts with a minor.

Jiminez’s pretrial is scheduled for May 2.