The sheriff's office Thursday forwarded the case to federal immigration authorities after a comprehensive database search on Carranza came up empty.
HOLLISTER
Federal immigration authorities have confirmed the man suspected of kidnapping and raping a Watsonville woman last weekend is an illegal immigrant from Mexico, the San Benito County Sheriff's Office has confirmed.
With U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placing a hold on 36-year-old Roberto Carranza, he no longer is eligible for bail and must remain at the San Benito County Jail until one of two things happen: charges are dropped or the suspect is convicted and serves a prison term.
The sheriff's office Thursday forwarded the case to federal immigration authorities after a comprehensive database search on Carranza came up empty, which almost always means a suspect is in the country illegally.
"They had to do their homework and found out he's not documented, or illegal," said Lt. Roy Iler, a sheriff's office spokesman.
Federal authorities followed up by placing a "detainer" on Carranza shortly after 7 p.m. the same day, said Beth Matulich, a correctional deputy at the jail.
Matulich confirmed that federal records show Carranza was born in Mexico, although the document faxed to the jail from immigration authorities did not include a more specific location of birth or residence, she said.
"He can't go anywhere," she said. "He has to sit here until his charges are found guilty or not guilty."
Sheriff's investigators worked with the Watonville Police Department and arrested Carranza on Wednesday afternoon at a produce company in Watsonville where he had worked. Authorities allege that on Friday night, he took the 40-year-old woman to a residence near Aromas on Chittenden Road where he bound, gagged and repeatedly raped her before she escaped Tuesday and sought help.
The sheriff's office has finished its investigation and reports, and this morning forwarded the case to the district attorney's office for potential charges, Iler said.
Look back for more on this story.
Kollin Kosmicki Kollin Kosmicki is editor of the Free Lance and Pinnacle. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 337 or editor@freelancenews.com.
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