Santa Rosa Man Reconvicted On Rape Charges In Kidnapping Case After Appeal
SANTA ROSA (CBS SF) -- A Sonoma County jury deliberated four hours Monday before reconvicting a Santa Rosa man of rape in concert with a kidnapping allegation in 2006 and 2009, Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch said.
Rogelio Carlos-Zaragoza, 29, was convicted of the three rapes in concert, kidnapping for purpose of rape and assault with force likely to commit great bodily injury. He faces 75 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 16.
Carlos-Zaragoza was convicted in August 2010 of the charges and sentenced a month later to 75 years to life in prison. A new trial was ordered on appeal because the jury was not properly instructed regarding the prosecution's burden of proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Carlos-Zaragoza's brother Leonel Carlos-Zaragoza, was convicted of one of the rapes and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
Rogelio Carlos-Zaragoza was reconvicted of raping a woman in a vineyard with three of his friends on June 16, 2006 and raping another woman with his three friends in a vineyard on July 28, 2006, Ravitch said.
The jury Monday also convicted Rogelio Carlos-Zaragoza of rape in concert with a kidnapping allegation on July 24, 2009 when his brother Leonel kidnapped a girl at knifepoint and raped her in the back seat while Rogelio drove, Ravitch said.
DNA tests linked Rogelio Carlos-Zaragoza to the two rapes in 2006, Ravitch said.
"It is our hope that this conviction will keep him off our streets for many years to come, and provide some assistance to the victims from this devastating violation," Ravitch said in a statement.
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