A 37-year-old man already charged with the attempted murder and rape of a woman in January pleaded not guilty Wednesday to additional charges of beating and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Cabrillo Park in Santa Ana.
An amended complaint filed Tuesday against Cornelio B. Chairez Velasquez charges him with rape, attempted forcible oral copulation on a 14-year-old victim and forcible oral copulation on a 14-year-old victim, all felonies, involving the alleged Nov. 24 attack at the park.
He was previously charged with attempted murder, assault with intent to commit a sex offense, attempted forcible rape and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, with sentencing enhancements for allegedly inflicting great bodily injury.
Velasquez, who has been in custody without bail since his Jan. 26 arrest, was ordered to return to the Central Justice Center on May 20 for a preliminary hearing that will determine whether there’s enough evidence to proceed to trial.
After Velasquez’s arrest in January, a DNA sample was sent to a laboratory and results this week linked him to the attack in November, said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
The attack on the teen occurred about 1 a.m. at the park at 1820 E. Fruit St. The teen was sitting on a bench when the suspect sat down next to her and made “small talk,” which made her feel uncomfortable enough to get up and start walking away, Bertagna said. She was threatened at knifepoint to sit back down on the bench, where she was sexually assaulted, according to Bertagna, who said the victim sustained “multiple visible injuries.”
On Jan. 26, Velasquez, after negotiating a price for sex with a woman, grew enraged when told that his request for more sex acts required a higher fee and began pummeling her with his fists about 7 a.m. at 1405 E. First St., Bertagna alleged.
The woman, whose name was withheld, managed to dial 911 and to record video of the violent encounter, Bertagna said. Police arrested the defendant at the scene, and the woman was taken to an area hospital to be treated for unspecified injuries, Bertagna said.
He said police are “reaching out to other departments” to see if the defendant may be linked to any other attacks.
“That’s why we released his booking photo,” Bertagna said. “If anyone believes they have been a victim, we ask them to come forward.”
Anyone with information was asked to call detectives at 714-245-8542. Orange County Crime Stoppers, which accepts anonymous tips, can be reached at (855) TIP-OCCS.