BREAKING NEWS — Jorge Torrez Found Guilty

An Arlington jury has found former Marine Jorge “George” Torrez guilty of rape and 13 other charges.

From an Arlington County Police Department news release:

ARLINGTON, VA. – The Arlington County Police Department announces the judgment rendered on Jorge Torrez on October 15, 2010.  He was arrested in February 2010 as the suspect in an attempted abduction case. He was later linked to an abduction and rape case that also occurred in February.

In the early hours of February 10, 2010, a woman was walking in the 1700 block of N. Quincy Street when a man displaying a handgun approached her. The man indicated that he wanted the victim to get into a car, but the victim resisted. The victim was ultimately told to give the suspect her purse, which she did, and he fled.

On February 27, 2010, around 4 a.m., police responded to the 600 block of North Wakefield Street for a call about an abduction. Two young women were walking to a residence when a man confronted them with a handgun. The suspect forced them inside the house where he restrained them. The suspect then forced one of the victims to leave the house with him and she was forced into the suspect’s vehicle. Four hours later, the victim was found seeking help and medical treatment in a neighboring jurisdiction. She was suffering from serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

During the investigation of these crimes, two separate patrol officers recalled seeing, and running the license plate, of a vehicle that matched the description of the SUV used in these crimes. That information lead to the owner of the SUV, Jorge Torrez.  This police work was instrumental in the identification and subsequent arrest of the suspect.

A jury returned guilty verdicts on Jorge Torrez this afternoon. He was convicted of 14 charges including three counts of Abduction with the Intent to Defile, three counts of Forcible Sodomy, two counts of Robbery, one count of Rape, one count of Breaking and Entering While Armed, and four weapons charges related to the previous charges. The jury recommended five life sentences plus 168 years and a $190,000 fine. The formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 10, 2010.