FALLBROOK–Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 22-year-old Fallbrook man on charges of burglary, sexual assault and rape.
Deputies say Michael Anthony Espinoza was taken into custody early Wednesday morning at his residence.
The incident occurred at an apartment complex in the 1200 Block of Alturas Road in Fallbrook. A female resident reported that an unknown male entered her apartment and then fled on foot. Deputies arrived minutes later and searched the area for the suspect. During the search, a deputy heard screams coming from a nearby apartment and observed a male matching the description of the suspect running from the residence. They chased the suspect on foot and detained him.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Espinoza allegedly committed four separate residential burglaries during the evening and committed sexual assaults during two of them. The first sexual assault victim, a 62- year-old female reported that Espinoza entered her apartment, sexually assaulted her and left the residence. Approximately 10 to 15 minutes later, Espinoza broke into a second apartment, which prompted the call to the Sheriff’s Department. Minutes after fleeing from that residence, Espinoza entered a third apartment where a 39 year-old-female reported that Espinoza attempted to sexually assault her while she was in bed with her husband. The victim screamed and Espinoza fled the residence, which ultimately led to his arrest. Detectives discovered that Espinoza had committed an additional residential burglary earlier in the evening.
Espinoza was booked into the Vista Detention Facility. His bail is set at $1,400,000.00.
