Redwood City Student Found Guilty In Attempted Rape Of Teacher
REDWOOD CITY (CBS SF) -- A Redwood City high school student faces life in prison after a jury Wednesday found him guilty of trying to rape a teacher in a school parking lot.
David Velasquez, now 21, was found guilty Wednesday afternoon in San Mateo County Superior Court on four counts including kidnapping with the intent of sexual assault and other sexual assault and weapons charges, according to San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
The jury deliberated for one hour on the fifth day of the trial before returning with a verdict.
According to Wagstaffe, Velasquez showed no reaction when the verdict was read and "impassively sat there."
Velasquez had claimed during the trial that the attempted rape at Summit Preparatory Charter High School on one of his teachers on Jan. 23, 2012, was a prank and he didn't intend to physically harm her.
The teacher, referred to as "Ms. Doe," was walking to her car at the school's parking lot around 5:15 p.m. when Velasquez waited nearby with a scarf around his face and no shoes on, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors allege that during the assault the teacher tried to escape six or seven times, but Velasquez ultimately forced her onto the ground, and held her down and tried to open her legs.
He then fell on top of her with a knife, which he testified was an accident.
Another teacher arrived at that moment and yelled at which point Velasquez got up and fled.
The assault lasted as long as eight minutes.
He was arrested later that night at his home in Redwood City.
Velasquez has never been arrested before. He remains in custody on $1 million bail, Wagstaffe said.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 8 and potentially faces a life sentence with the possibility of parole.
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