Oak Park Trail rapist sentenced to prison

SITTING IN SEAT – Ruelas was convicted of attacking women on local hiking trails. Acorn archive photo

A man found guilty of attacking five female victims in Thousand Oaks and at homes in Oak Park and on hiking trails will spend at least 32 years in state prison, court records show.

Edgar Rodriguez Ruelas, a 42-year-old Woodland Hills resident, was sentenced on June 5 to 25 years to life in prison for sexual penetration with a foreign object. He must also serve an additional seven years to life in prison for assault with intent to commit a sex crime during a residential burglary, for a total sentence of 32 years to life.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Anthony Sabo also sentenced Ruelas to an additional 21 years in prison for three counts of assault with intent to commit a sex crime, one of which was against a person under 18, records show.

“Thanks to the five brave women who faced Ruelas in court, hopefully he will never be free to commit assault again,” said Brent Nibecker, assistant district attorney, in a statement from the prosecutor’s office. “While we cannot replace his sense of safety, I hope this life sentence brings them the justice they so richly deserve.”

Edgar Ruelas

The first crime he is charged with occurred on June 15, 2017, when Ruelas attacked a 25-year-old woman after entering her Thousand Oaks apartment through an unlocked door. He attempted to force her into her bed but fled after a brief struggle.

On July 14, 2017, Ruelas ambushed another woman hiking in Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks. He chased the victim through the park, pushed her to the ground and groped her, but fled when she said she called the police. Ruelas’ car was seen speeding away on surveillance video.

On October 25, 2017, Ruelas entered a Thousand Oaks apartment through an unlocked door and sexually assaulted the resident. He fled when the victim screamed and her boyfriend tried to chase him.

On April 12, 2019, Ruelas pushed a woman to the ground as she hiked on a trail in Oak Park. He fled when she told him others knew where she was.

The fifth offense occurred on March 5, 2020, when Ruelas attacked a 16-year-old girl on a hiking trail in Oak Park. He pushed her to the ground, but she was able to escape after punching him. Surveillance video captured a man dressed all in black, wearing a mask and gloves, getting out of his car near the hiking trail the victim was using and later getting back in.

Detectives arrested Ruelas on March 6, 2020, after identifying the license plate of his car.

According to prosecutors, his DNA was linked to evidence seized in four of the five attacks.