Accused Rapist Indicted
Jose Gomez-Gomez Faces 16 Charges

POSTED: 6:43 am MST November 22, 2009
UPDATED: 10:12 am MST November 22, 2009

PHOENIX -- A man authorities believe is an illegal immigrant from Honduras has been indicted on 16 criminal charges in connection with two sexual assaults and the reported kidnapping of a woman.

Detectives said they arrested Jose Gomez-Gomez on Nov. 14 after they tied him to the crimes through forensic evidence.

He faces, among other charges, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, sexual abuse, attempted sexual abuse, kidnapping, robbery and burglary.

Police said they believe Gomez-Gomez is responsible for entering a home in July 2007 in the area of 12th Street and Glendale Avenue and sexually assaulting a woman asleep in her home. Police at the time said they obtained forensic evidence but they were not able to identify a suspect.

In July 2009, another sexual assault happened in the area of 9th Avenue and Thomas Road. That recent sexual assault was linked to the 2007 rape by DNA.

Detectives said they used evidence stolen from the 2009 victim to pursue every angle possible to identify the suspect. Police zeroed in on Gomez-Gomez and used an undercover police officer to get his DNA, which they said linked him to both incidents.

Court records indicate Gomez-Gomez worked at Ranch Market and lived with a male roommate in a home close to one of his alleged victims.

Police reported that Gomez-Gomez made admissions to both sexual assaults as well as an attempted sexual assault in 2007.

"Our prosecutors will work to seek justice for these victims," Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said in a statement.

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