Rape Suspect Denied Bid to Change Plea
A twice-deported illegal immigrant who faces 50 years to life in prison in the rapes of two Thousand Oaks women lost a bid to change his guilty plea Wednesday.
Jose Alvarez Zavala was arrested Feb. 22 after allegedly breaking into the home of a 44-year-old Thousand Oaks woman and attempting to rape her.
Authorities say Zavala, 22, raped two Thousand Oaks women, ages 64 and 57, in their homes earlier this year. They believe he targeted older women living alone near his home.
Zavala entered a guilty plea Oct. 2, but he refused to proceed with a sentencing hearing Nov. 3, and asked Municipal Judge Herbert Curtis III to withdraw the plea.
Curtis denied the motion Wednesday.
Zavala will be back in court Wednesday for sentencing.
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