"MySpace" Rapist Sentenced to 15 Years
Another noteworthy, criminal case in Fullerton this week, moving from violence by police to violence against women. In a victory for three Orange County women, and rape victims everywhere, Jason Ara Erpinar, 22, has been sentenced to 15 years in state prison for rape attacks he committed between August 2006 and March 2008.
Jason Erpinar, dubbed the “MySpace Rapist”. Photo courtesy of the O.C. District Attorney’s Office.
Erpinar pleaded guilty on Monday to all three counts against him: two felony counts of rape by intoxication and one felony count of forcible rape. It was inconclusive whether or not Erpinar had drugged any of the women, besides inducing them to extreme alcohol consumption.
The first two charges were from women that Erpinar had met on MySpace, the social networking site, and the Deputy District Attorney Mark Birney described the defendant as a “prolific dater” on the site. Both women were taken out by Erpinar, one to a house party and the other to two Orange County parks, and consumed alcohol with them. Both women became so intoxicated that they vomited, after which Erpinar took advantage of their inability to resist any attack, and raped them.
The third woman had been in a relationship with Erpinar when she was 17, and he had been physically abusive; between August 2006 and October 2007, he raped her, reported D.D.A. Birney. None of the victims knew each other prior to the court case.
In court before sentencing, Erpinar declined to make a statement, as did his attorney, Robert D. Rentzer. Erpinar made the decision to plea, knowing that if the case had gone to trial and a jury had convicted him of all the charges, Erpinar could have faced up to 24 years in prison, instead of the 15 he received for his guilty plea.
Have you been a victim of rape, or accused of rape? Have you been a victim of domestic abuse, or been accused of abusing your domestic partner? If you are looking for legal representation who will respect you and defend your rights, call the Law Offices of Glew & Kim immediately on 714-713-4525, or use our online form for a Free Case Analysis. We believe in equal access to justice for all.
