Police nets suspect in foiled rape case

Associate Judge Virginia Sablan-Onerheim issued last week a bench warrant for the arrest of a Filipino man facing attempted rape and related charges before the Superior Court.

A $32,500-bail was set yesterday for the temporary release of Crizaldo M. Valdez, formally charged before the local court with burglary, disturbing the peace, assault and battery, and attempted rape of his 19-year-old niece.

The suspect was picked up and arrested at a gameroom in Chalan Kanoa District Four.

According to police records, Mr. Valdez once tried to harm himself with a wooden chisel, in an attempt to escape police arrest for the accusations hurled against him last month.

The 39-year-old defendant reportedly staged a suicide in the presence of police officers, where he actually slashed his stomach multiple times with a chisel.

Mr. Valdez’ arrest stemmed from a March 2001 incident where he allegedly tried to force sex on a Filipino girl, his niece.

The victim was reportedly home alone at her Kagman residence when her uncle showed up at the doorstep.

As soon as he arrived, Mr. Valdez entered the house and told the victim to take a shower.

When the 19-year-old asked why, the suspect gave no explanation.

The young lady then entered her father’s room to check for messages but to her surprise, the suspect was closely behind her, pushing her on the bed.

Mr. Valdez allegedly started kissing the girl on the neck area and grabbing her buttocks.

Scared and helpless, the victim tried to get away from her alleged attacker and ran to the back door that led to the garage area.

But her uncle was reportedly swift in grabbing her by the ear. He then carried her back to the bed, police reports said.

Mr. Valdez allegedly also tried to strip the victim off her clothes. The teenager claimed to police she grappled to reach the corner of the room, where she started crying with her hands covering her face.

The suspect allegedly continued to pursue her by kissing her again on the neck area.

Just then, both heard a car pull up in the drive way. According to the victim, Mr. Valdez warned her not to breathe a word of what had transpired between them to anyone.

The new arrival was apparently the suspect’s wife, Mrs. Valdez, who instructed her niece to run to the airport to fetch her mother.

Relieved, the victim drove to the airport and reported the incident to her mother.

Meanwhile, the suspect who suffered stomach lacerations due to the attempted suicide was then brought to the hospital for treatment.