Accused Redwood City Rapist Faces New Charges

REDWOOD CITY, CA — A Redwood City man accused of raping a woman in San Mateo over the summer has been charged in two other cases, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.

Alejandro Venegas Guevara, 27, has been in custody since his Aug. 11 arrest in Redwood City on suspicion of raping a 62-year-old woman who was waiting at a bus stop.

Prosecutors amended their complaint against Guevara Tuesday, adding two additional rape charges. Both alleged incidents occurred earlier this year in Redwood City.

The rape charges against Guevara for a Jane Doe #2 and Jane Doe #3 victims occurred July 9 at 1 a.m. near the main library, and June 4 at 10:56 PM in the Caltrain parking garage.

The alleged Aug. 5 incident for which he was in custody was described by law enforcement officials at the time as especially horrific.

Authorities said the alleged victim was badly beaten and required hospitalization for serious injuries. The alleged incident occurred at 10:40 p.m. at 9th Avenue and S El Camino Real.

A GoFundMe drive established by the San Mateo County Police Officers Association had raised over $111,600 as of Thursday morning in support of the alleged victim, who police said is in dire need of financial assistance.

Video surveillance footage taken from a restaurant near downtown San Mateo around the time the alleged incident occurred helped lead to Guevara's arrest, authorities said.

"This is a particularly brutal and savage crime, and not one we often see or will tolerate in our city," San Mateo Police Chief Ed Barberini said in a news conference shortly after Guevara’s arrest.

"Members of this department have worked tirelessly to identify this predator and bring resolution to this case."