Fugitive Convicted in Attempted Rape Case in Laguna Niguel

Daniel Morales, a 39-year-old fugitive from Mexico, who had eluded authorities for six years, was convicted Wednesday of attempting to rape a female relative and a girl in Laguna Niguel in 2004, according to officials.

Jurors began deliberating at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday and returned with their verdicts in the trial of Morales on Wednesday, Deputy District attorney Keith Burke said.

Morales "used a ruse'' to get into the victim's home on March 5, 2004, Burke said.

"He claimed a relative was sick in the car," Burke said. "He said the family member was in trouble and needed help."

Once he was let in, Morales attacked the woman, whose relation to Morales wasn't revealed to protect her identity, Burke said. As the victim reached for a telephone, Morales grabbed it and pulled it from the wall. Then he ripped up bed sheets and tied her up with it, Burke said. Morales also tried to rape and sodomize a 12-year-old girl who was also in the residence, Burke said.

Morales was caught after Orange County Sheriff's investigators were tipped that Morales had fled to Mexicali, Mexico, according to the FBI. Morales was arrested and brought back to the United States in June 2010.

Morales who has a prior strike for theft of a gun, faces more than 150 years to life in prison for his convictions for residential burglary, attempted forcible rape, attempted sodomy by force, and three felony counts of lewd acts on a child younger than 14, Burke said.

The jury also found true sentencing enhancements for committing a residential burglary using a knife and tying, and binding during the lewd acts, Burke said.

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 24.

--City News Service