4 to Be Tried Over Park Rape-Robberies

VAN NUYS —  Four transients were ordered to stand trial Wednesday on charges of raping and robbing 10 people during a series of late-night attacks in West San Fernando Valley parks that spread fear among residents.

After an almost three-day preliminary hearing, Van Nuys Municipal Judge Leslie A. Dunn ordered the four men to appear in Superior Court on Nov. 17 for an arraignment hearing. Until then, they will be held in County Jail in lieu of bails ranging from $250,000 to $750,000.

The alleged ringleader of the group, Hector Martinez Rocha, 20, was identified by witnesses as the gunman during the three attacks. Two women testified that he raped them after tying up their companions with their own shoelaces and belts.

The rapes occurred May 30 in Shadow Ranch Park and June 16 in Chase Park, the victims said. Both parks are in West Hills. Rocha is also accused of working with the three other men during a robbery in Chatsworth Park North on June 11.

Rocha now faces a total of 20 felony counts, but Deputy Dist. Atty. Carol Fisch said she will add another charge when Rocha next appears in court.

Francisco Chavez Ramirez, 30, participated in two robberies and raped one teen-age girl during one incident, according to witnesses. He is charged with 14 felony counts.

Two other men, Jose Guadalupe Chavez, 21, and Jose Rivas Torres, 28, were involved in only the Chatsworth Park North incident, prosecutors said. Both Chavez and Torres face four felony counts.

Fisch said she was forced to drop six felony counts against Rocha and Ramirez stemming from an alleged attack May 28 in Shadow Ranch Park because the victims were unwilling to testify in court.