Sandoval admits to burglary but not assault of Annaville woman
By barbara ramirez Caller-Times
May 9, 2007

A man accused of raping and robbing a 65-year-old Annaville woman told police he broke into the woman's home but said he didn't assault her, according to a videotaped statement played at his trial Tuesday.

Eugenio Sandoval, 23, blamed at least two other men for the July 24, 2006, sexual assault, according to the tape.

The hour-long video shows Sandoval, a Mexican citizen, speaking Spanish while Sgt. R.L. Garcia interprets for another officer taking notes.

Sandoval told police he had been drinking the night he and three other men entered the home and that he went inside only to tell them to leave. It was not clear how Sandoval knew the men, and he told police he did not know their names.

"He said whenever he drinks he does things he normally doesn't do," Garcia said, interpreting for Sandoval.

Sandoval is accused of breaking into the woman's home, assaulting her, then using her own undergarments to tie her to her bed. The woman testified Monday that she drifted in and out of consciousness for 18 hours until neighbors and co-workers found her, still tied to the bed. Sandoval also is accused of stealing some of her possessions, including her car.

Sandoval said he used his hand to break a window, which the other three men crawled through. He said he stayed outside the home until a large white dog started barking. He then went inside to ask the other men to leave with him, according to the videotape.

Sandoval said while he was inside the home, he saw two of the men inside the woman's bedroom and she was tied to the bed.

"He said he opened the door and saw the lady on the bed," Garcia said on the tape. "He said he told the woman 'Calm down, calm down, nothing bad is going to happen to you.' "

Testimony continues today in the 214th District Court.

Contact Barbara Ramirez at 886-3792 or HYPERLINK mailto:ramirezb@caller.com ramirezb@caller.com

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