Santa Barbara – The University of California at Santa Barbara, arguably enjoying the most idyllic of campus settings anywhere in the nation, has certainly had more than its share of unwanted media exposure over the past year…a trend that appears to continue unabated with the October 2nd arrest of Victor Farias, a 23-year old from Salinas on charges connected with the alleged forcible rape of a 19-year old coed at an Isla Vista fraternity house.
According to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Kelly Hoover, the female victim entered the SBSD Isla Vista Foot Patrol Headquarters before 7:00 a.m. on October 1st to report that “she had been raped by the suspect at a fraternity house in the 800 block of Fortuna Lane in Isla Vista.” According to the victim, it was her understanding that Farias was “visiting a friend who was a fraternity brother” in the house where the crime reportedly took place.
Pursuant to her report, SBSD detectives initiated an investigation and determined that Farias was the principal suspect, and deputies promptly made contact with him. At that time, they examined Farias’ cell phone photo records and saw images “related to the alleged rape,” providing sufficient probable cause for his arrest on the spot. With his cell phone seized and taken into evidence, further investigation revealed that Farias was, as reported by Hoover, “on active Santa Barbara County Probation for burglary,” a status that undoubtedly failed to endear him to arresting officers or court officials who rejected his pro forma request for bail.
Farias remains at Santa Barbara County Jail on a no-bail hold, while the Isla Vista Foot Patrol Division of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department continues to seek additional information on this case or any other sexual assaults that may be connected to Farias. Anyone with such information is urged to contact law enforcement at (805) 683-2724.
Read more:
KION: Salinas man arrested on suspicion of rape
Independent: Salinas man arrested for raping student
