Sheriff: Woman held captive, beaten, raped in Calif. mobile home; home renter in custody

Calif. sheriff: Woman tied up, assaulted for days

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Sheriff’s deputies rescued a woman who had been kidnapped, then beaten and raped for three days in a mobile home, authorities said.

John Gomez, 58, was arrested Friday on suspicion of various kidnapping, sexual assault and drug charges. He was being held on $2.1 million bail.

Deputies went to the Western Mobile Home Park in south Santa Rosa after hearing from someone who received an urgent call for help from the victim. Inside Gomez’s rented trailer they found the 40-year-old woman with her ankle tethered to a bolt on his bedroom floor and suffering various injuries, Sgt. Cecile Focha said.

“The female was injured and pleaded with deputies to rescue her. She had been tied up for three days, beaten with instruments and sexually assaulted,” Focha said.

Deputies also found evidence of a drug sales operation in the mobile home.

Authorities also detained Gomez’s female roommate and released her pending criminal charges.

Sheriff’s officials declined to release any other details Monday, saying the investigation was ongoing.

Neighbors said Gomez, who had lived in the park for 10 years and owned a tiling company, was not known for causing problems.

“He always paid his rent on time — usually early in fact,” said park manager Sandy Cassidy. “I’m shocked. This is just terrible, if it’s true.”

Information from: The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, www.pressdemocrat.com