Deputies Track Down Eastvale Man Accused of Raping Woman in Diamond Bar

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

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DIAMOND BAR - Investigators are seeking additional victims of a man accused of raping a woman in Diamond Bar last month.

DNA evidence collected from the assault reportedly helped to identify Joel Martinez, 37. He was pegged by detectives as the man who forcibly raped a woman who was walking to work along Brea Canyon Road near Sapphire Lane just after 4:15 a.m. December 8, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Martinez allegedly approached the woman and asked to use her cell phone. The victim denied Martinez and stated she was low on minutes on her prepaid phone, the Sheriff’s Department said.

The suspect, identified as Martinez, became angry and walked away. Five minutes later the suspect allegedly returned, approached the victim from behind, put her in a chokehold and dragged her 100 feet off the roadway into some bushes where she was assaulted. The suspect allegedly also threaten the victim with a pocket knife, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Martinez was identified as a suspect through DNA evidence January 5. He was located in Eastvale, a city in Riverside County, and arrested January 6.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office formally filed charges against Martinez, including one count of kidnapping with the intent to commit rape, one count of forcible oral copulation and one count of attempted forcible rape, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Martinez is being held in lieu of $1.2 million bail.

Anyone with information on Martinez, or who may be a victim Martinez is urged to call the Los Angeles county sheriffs special victims bureau toll-free tip line at 877-710-5273. You can also email information to [email protected], use the P3Tips mobile app, or visit lacrimestoppers.org.