A 38-year-old transient pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison for trying to assault two women in a bathroom at the Santa Ana train station, according to court records obtained Thursday.
Jesse Danilo Rodas pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted rape, assault with the intent to commit a sex offense and false imprisonment, all felonies. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dismissed single felony counts each of assault with the intent to commit a sex offense, attempted forcible rape, false imprisonment and two misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure.
The attacks happened just after 3 p.m. Aug. 7 at the train station in the 1000 block of East Santa Ana Boulevard, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
The two victims, who did not know each other, encountered the suspect in the women’s bathroom, Bertagna said. Rodas claimed he wasn’t aware it was the woman’s restroom and left, but returned a short time later.
As one of the women emerged from a bathroom stall, she saw Rodas with his pants down and aroused, Bertagna said. He grabbed her by the arm and attempted to force her back in, Bertagna said.
When the other woman attempted to help the other victim, Rodas attempted to push her back into the stall as well.
“Between the two of them they were able to get away, and a security guard outside the bathroom locked the door with the suspect inside until police arrived,” Bertagna said.