53-Year Sentence for Serial Assaulter Edgar Ruelas
Ventura County DA Announces Harsh Sentence for Multiple Sexual Assaults
According to True Crime News, Edgar Ruelas, 42, has been sentenced to 32 years to life plus an additional 21 years in state prison for sexually assaulting five women, including a 16-year-old. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced the sentence on June 5, following Ruelas’ May conviction for multiple sex crimes, including assault during a home break-in.
53 Years in Prison: Serial Assaulter Edgar Ruelas Sentenced for Attacking Five Women (PHOTO: MSN)
Brave Victims’ Testimonies Lead to Conviction of Serial Assaulter Edgar Ruelas
Edgar Ruelas’ attacks began in Thousand Oaks, where he broke into homes and assaulted sleeping women. In June 2017, a 25-year-old woman fought him off after he entered her bedroom. Later that year, he assaulted another woman while she and her boyfriend slept, but fled after a struggle. Edgar Ruelas also targeted lone female hikers, wearing black clothes and a face covering to ambush them in secluded areas. He attacked hikers in Wildwood Regional Park in 2017 and Oak Park in 2019 and 2020, the last attack involving a 16-year-old girl who fought back with a ukulele. DNA testing and surveillance footage were key in catching Edgar Ruelas. The bravery of his victims, who testified in court, was crucial in his conviction. Senior Deputy District Attorney Brent Nibecker praised the victims, saying, “Thanks to the five brave women who faced Edgar Ruelas in court, he will hopefully never be free to attack again. While we cannot replace the sense of security he took, I hope this life sentence delivers the justice they so richly deserve.”
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