Fallbrook Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 22-year-old Fallbrook resident Michael Anthony Espinoza on charges of Burglary, Sexual Assault and Rape.
On December 2, 2015, at approximately 2:35 AM, Sheriff’s deputies responded to an apartment complex in the 1200 Block of Alturas Road in Fallbrook, where 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. Deputies chased the suspect on foot and detained him.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, Michael 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 10-15 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.
This investigation is ongoing. Espinoza is charged with 459 PC, residential burglary, 289 (a)(1) PC, penetration with a foreign object with force, 261 (a)(1) PC, rape with force, 220 (b) PC, assault with intent to commit rape during the commission of a burglary. Espinoza was booked into the Vista Detention Facility. His bail is set at $1,400,000.00.
Lt. Dan Brislin will be available for on-camera interviews tomorrow at Sheriff’s Headquarters, 9621 Ridgehaven Court, San Diego, 92123 from 9:00-11:00 AM.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the San Diego Sheriff’s Department at 858- 565-5200 or you may remain anonymous and call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
