Rape suspect who had been deported enters not guilty plea

UNION-TRIBUNE

6:22 p.m. April 4, 2008

EL CAJON – A man who had been deported to Mexico as a convicted felon pleaded not guilty Friday to kidnapping and raping a La Mesa woman in El Cajon.

Israel Mendez, 25, is charged with two counts of forcible rape, one count of forcible sodomy, one count of forcible oral copulation, kidnapping with the intent to commit rape and robbery.

El Cajon Superior Court Judge Patricia K. Cookson set an April 17 hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence for a trial and appointed the county Public Defenders' Office to represent Mendez.

Deputy District Attorney Curtis Ross told the judge that Mendez accosted a woman who was walking along Main Street in El Cajon around 9 p.m. March 27.

Mendez held a knife to the woman's throat and forced her into his mid-1990's vintage green Thunderbird, Ross said. He said Mendez drove about five blocks to a more secluded area where he raped her.

After taking the woman's purse, Mendez let her out of the car and she ran to a nearby house for help, Ross said.

Ross said Mendez was convicted of residential robbery in 2003 and deported to Mexico after serving four years in prison.

Ray Huard: (619) 593-4953; ray.huard@uniontrib.com

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