Three days into trial, the San Mateo teenager accused of raping a woman near the Third Avenue overpass more than two years ago abruptly pleaded no contest yesterday.
Rigoberto Torres, 18, will receive a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life for one count of forcible rape and one count of forcible oral copulation. He also admitted using a deadly weapon.
He had faced more than 100 years to life if convicted by a jury instead. Although the March 21, 2002 crime occurred when Torres was 16, prosecutors charged him as an adult because of the attack's severity.
Prosecutors were a bit surprised by the plea bargain because it came after so many legal maneuvers in Torres' case. Since his arrest two years ago, Torres has had two pleas, two attorneys and two series of mental evaluations. Questions over his mental fitness dragged hearings out for nearly a year and he was only declared competent to stand trial early last year. His case also slowed when his first court-appointed attorney asked to be released from representing him.
Torres' current attorney could not be reached to explain the reasoning behind the plea.
Torres grabbed the victim on Third Avenue near Highway 101 and pulled her at knife-point to a nearby grassy area. Torres raped her repeatedly before fleeing on his bicycle. Police were tipped off by a person claiming they heard Torres bragging about the incident. After he was arrested, Torres was initially housed at Hillcrest Juvenile Facility. He moved to San Mateo County Jail once he turned 18.
Torres began trial Monday and jury selection was under way when he made his plea. He remains in custody in lieu of $2 million bail until his sentencing June 24.
Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 104. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.
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CA Is Burning said:
Mike Caggiano said:
jameschimera said:
It's about time they repair pot holes on 101.
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