Lemoore man arrested on charges of rape after DNA matching

It was on January 17, 2015 that a female in her 30s was walking home at about 2 a.m. on Olive Street when she noticed a suspect, described as a slim, average height black-adult male in his mid-twenties, following her.

She continued walking at a faster rate of speed and noticed the suspect continued following her. She confronted the suspect and again turned away from him to continue walking. While still behind her, the suspect then hit the female’s face with his arm. The suspect then twisted the victim's head to the side as he grabbed her neck and she began screaming. The suspect warned the victim that he would snap her neck if she continued to scream. 

The suspect asked the victim for her money and she told him she did not have any. The suspect dragged the victim on her back and into the driveway and side yard of a nearby home where he raped her. Prior to leaving, the suspect again threatened the victim and told her not to report the crime to police.

The victim returned home and told family members about the incident. The victim was taken to the hospital where she received treatment for injuries to her face, mouth and body. DNA evidence was collected from the victim's body and later analyzed by the Department of Justice - it was determined to be Smith’s. Lemoore police detectives contacted Smith, but he denied the allegations. An evidentiary DNA sample was collected from Smith and also analyzed by the Department of Justice.

On October 5, Lemoore detectives received information from the Department of Justice that the evidentiary DNA sample and the DNA sample located on the victim were a positive match.

Smith was then arrested for numerous charges relating to the January incident including rape, kidnapping, assault, attempted robbery and terrorist threats. He was booked into the Kings County Jail and his bail was set at $370,000.

Anyone with further information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective Avelar at (559) 925-6859.