Inmate Faces 66 Counts in ‘Freeway Rapist’ Cases

Authorities on Wednesday charged a 24-year-old convict already in prison with being the “Long Beach Freeway rapist,” who assaulted women and girls over a period of two years.

Daniel Sanchez faces 66 felony counts, including forcible rape, kidnapping, assault and robbery.

Sanchez was arrested for burglary in El Monte last year and consented to a DNA test, authorities said. That evidence linked him to attacks on 11 women and girls between December 2001 and October 2003, authorities said.

All but one of the attacks occurred along the Long Beach Freeway corridor -- in Paramount, Long Beach, Compton, Lynwood, Bell and Bell Gardens. The victims ranged in age from 11 to 40. Two of them, the youngest and a 14-year-old, were attacked in their homes.

Investigators said that during many of the attacks, the rapist was armed with a handgun.

Sanchez, whose nickname is Angel and whose hometown is unknown, already is serving a 10-year sentence for the burglary. He is scheduled for arraignment Monday in Compton Superior Court.

If convicted, he faces multiple life terms.