LANCASTER – A Palmdale man convicted of attacking two female joggers in the Antelope Valley was sentenced Friday to 23 years in state prison, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office announced.
Heriberto D. Romero, 34, was also ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
His conviction stemmed from attacks that occurred in January and September of last year, authorities said.
The first attack occurred Jan. 17, 2015, when Romero sneaked up behind a 20-year-old woman who was taking an evening run at Pelona Vista Park in Palmdale, according to testimony during his trial. Romero struggled with the woman over her cell phone as she tried to call for help and ultimately succeeded in getting the phone away from her, according to Deputy District Attorney Scott A. Yang.
The attack stopped after the woman’s assailant saw or heard someone in the park, Deputy Ryan Rouzan of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau said last year.
The second attack happened in the afternoon of Sept. 15, 2015, as a 24-year-old woman jogged along the California Aqueduct, the prosecutor said. Romero had been hiding in the bushes before he jumped out and attacked the victim, according to the testimony.
The woman fought back against her assailant, who fled the location, Rouzan said last year.
Romero was arrested a week later by the sheriff’s department and has remained jailed since then.
He was convicted by jury on Aug. 3 of two counts of assault with intent to commit rape and one count each of attempted kidnapping to commit rape, false imprisonment by violence and dissuading a witness from testifying.
Previous related story: Suspect arrested for sexually assaulting female joggers
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Sick of you racist MF says
And even if he was mexican do you know how meny white men commit sexual attacks on women and children on a daily basis!!! Get a life you guys are pathetic
Mayra says
So sad how people alway assume someone is Mexican. Thanks for clarifying where he was from.
Karen says
It’s nice to see the victims got him put away. Usually sexual assaults Dont end good for the victims. Hope they have healed.
Dude says
This dude will get his in jail. This is why my girl carries a gun, you would have been reading about a dead Mexican in the news not 2 raped women.
Stay smart, and be vigilant people, it can happen to anyone.
Jan says
He’s actually not Mexican. Can’t assume he’s Mexican because he is Hispanic/Latino looking. I am only saying this because I know his mother not just talking to open my mouth.
Rego says
If it walks like a Mexican, talks like a Mexican, it’s probably a Mexican. His anus will get stretched in the can.
Yurem says
I know that in fact he aint mexican.
I knew him personally, he is Salvadorian