Santa Ana Man Is Found Guilty of a Series of Nighttime Rapes, Robberies, Assaults at Parks

A Santa Ana man who terrorized nighttime strollers in central Orange County parks over a period of 18 months was found guilty Wednesday of raping four women.

Francisco Rene Hernandez, 38, was convicted of 35 felony counts of rape, robbery, kidnapping and aggravated assault. He faces 125 years to life in prison.

Hernandez targeted couples and lone women in a dozen attacks in Santa Ana and Fountain Valley.

Men were often held at gunpoint while their companions were raped, prosecutors said. Other times, Hernandez forced women to lie on their companions’ backs while he assaulted them.

The attacks, most of which occurred beginning February 2002, sparked beefed-up police patrols and warnings for people out on evening walks.

Hernandez was linked to the rapes through DNA evidence. One rape occurred in 1997 at Centennial Regional Park in Santa Ana. The other attacks took place at Jerome and Thornton parks in Santa Ana, and Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley.

Investigators said Hernandez had a style of attack. A father of two, he lived within walking distance of the parks and often rode his daughter’s BMX bike looking for victims.

He targeted couples taking late-night walks or in parked cars. In most cases, Hernandez would grab the couple’s cellphones and take money or jewelry before the assaults.

In one case, Hernandez identified himself to a couple as a police officer who was looking for someone with a gun. He patted down both victims and told them to lie on their stomachs before he robbed them and raped the woman.

The trial lasted eight days.

Alternate Public Defender Marri Derby, who was standing in for Hernandez’s lawyer, said the guilty verdicts were not completely unexpected. She said Hernandez was “very ashamed of himself.”

He is scheduled to be sentenced July 7.