Sacramento Man Sentenced to 17 Years for Sexual Assaults Against 2 Women in Santa Rosa and Davis
Photos: (top) Mugshot Jose Perez-Meza; (lower) Surveillance Image of Jose Perez-Meza
Originally Published By: Yolo County District Attorney Webpage:
“(Woodland, CA) – August 8, 2022 – On August 4, 2022, Yolo County Superior Court Judge Thomas Dyer sentenced 37-year-old Sacramento man, Jose Perez-Meza, to the maximum term of 17 years State Prison for the sexual assault of two women. Perez-Meza was convicted of two counts of Assault with Intent to Commit Rape, Attempted Digital Penetration, Sexual Battery, Attempted Rape, Assault with Likelihood of Great Bodily Injury, Robbery, and Witness Dissuasion. Perez-Meza was a twice convicted sex offender; he will now be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
During the two-week trial in May 2022, the jury heard evidence of two separate incidents, one in Santa Rosa and one in Davis. The jury heard evidence that in June 2018, a 27-year-old Santa Rosa woman left her apartment on crutches to go to her car. As she reached her car, Perez-Meza tackled her and then forced his hands into her underwear as she screamed and struggled. Perez-Meza attempted to penetrate her with his hands, but with other people a few car spaces over, he fled. Through use of surveillance footage Santa Rosa Police Department developed the profile of the person of interest but not the specific identity of the attacker. The crime went unsolved for two years.
On August 2, 2020, Jan Doe, a 23-year-old Davis woman and recent UC Davis graduate, was taking a late evening walk on the Putah Creek Bike Path in Davis. As she was walking, she was grabbed from behind by Perez-Meza. The young woman was then violently strangled from the rear by Perez-Meza. She lost consciousness and awoke a short distance away on the path. Perez-Meza demanded that she give him her cellphone and told her not to scream or fight. Perez-Meza attempted to pry her legs apart and told her that he wanted to have sex with her. She convinced Perez-Meza to stop. Perez-Meza then grabbed her hand and insisted that he walk her back to her apartment. Fearing being alone with Perez-Meza she asked that they go inside her apartment, there was a male roommate inside. She gave him a glass of tea. Perez-Meza left his fingerprint and DNA on the glass.
District Attorney Jeff Reisig said “Jose Perez-Meza is an absolute predator. Through the tremendous investigation conducted by both Davis PD and Santa Rosa PD, California is a safer place, and the victims were able to obtain justice. Our office is pleased that justice prevailed, and we will continue to aggressively prosecute these types of crimes.” “
