Alleged Rapist Identified by DNA
20-Year-Old Raul Antonio Yescas of Goleta is behind bars accused of rape by force or fear.
The incident took place back in April 2011 and remained unsolved until October 2012, when Yescas was allegedly identified through DNA analysis conducted by the California Department of Justice.
Police investigators say the victim was at a bus stop at UCSB, waiting to take a bus downtown to the Amtrak Station. At the bus stop she met Yescas and was befriended by him. While walking on Chapala Street the victim informed Yescas she needed to use a restroom and he suggested that she use the one located at Paseo Nuevo Mall.
Police claim that after three minutes Yescas entered the restroom, forcefully raped the victim, and then fled. Four months later, on August 30, 2011 Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office investigated a residential burglary that happened in Goleta.
On September 15, 2011 SBSO Property Crimes Detective arrested Yescas, along with others, for the crime. Yescas was placed on probation and DNA was collected by the Santa Barbara County Probation Department.
On April 20, 2012 the SBPD Crimes Against Persons Unit was notified by the California Department of Justice that body fluid other than the victim’s in the rape case had been detected among the evidence gathered and sent to the Crime Lab for analysis.
On November 7, 2012 at 1:15 p.m. Detectives arrested Yescas at the Santa Barbara County Probation Office at 4500 Hollister Avenue, where he had gone to meet his probation officer. Yescas acknowledged he had been with the victim at the time of the incident and admitted to having sex with her. He stated, however, that the sex was consensual.
Yescas was booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail for rape with a bail amount of $100,000.00. Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Ladinig says Yescas entered a not guilty plea and a preliminary hearing is set for November 27th in the afternoon.
