Elderly Woman Attacked: Los Banos Man on Trial in Shocking Home Invasion Case

A 37-year-old Los Banos man is on trial this week in Merced County, accused of sexually assaulting an 86-year-old woman after breaking into her home.

Aaron Torres-Quintana has pleaded not guilty to felony counts of assault during a burglary with intent to commit sexual assault, burglary, forcible oral copulation, elder abuse and misdemeanor counts of drug possession and resisting arrest, according to Merced Superior Court records.

If convicted by a Merced County jury, Torres-Quintana faces a potential life prison sentence, according to court documents.

Katie Gates, the Merced County deputy district attorney prosecuting the case, made her opening statement Tuesday before Judge John D. Kirhara.

Torres-Quintana’s attorney, Thomas Pfeiff, said he expects the prosecution to wrap up its case early today. Pfeiff said he would likely call defense witnesses this afternoon.

Gates confirmed jury deliberations are expected to begin Thursday.

Both attorneys said they would not comment on the case during the trial.

Los Banos police responded around 10 p.m. March 8 to a 911 call from a home in the 1400 block of South Nevada Street in Los Banos.

Officers said the alleged victim, an 86-year-old woman, heard her dogs barking in the backyard and went to investigate. She spotted a man in her backyard and yelled at him to leave, saying she was calling the police, the Los Banos Police Department said.

While the woman was on the phone, police said, the suspect climbed into her home through a window and took the telephone away. Police dispatchers heard a struggle and a woman pleading with an intruder to leave her home, officers said.

“The woman tried to get to her front door and fell to the ground. Torres-Quintana jumped on top of the woman and began to assault her, but (he) heard police approaching and fled,” police said in a news release.

Officers entered the home and spotted a male, later identified as Torres-Quintana, leaving through the back door. Police arrested him after a brief foot chase and struggle, Cmdr. Jason Hedden said in the statement.

Torres-Quintana remains in custody at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility with bail set at $1 million, according to booking records.

Article Originally Published At: https://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/local/crime/article4002853.html