Fresno man who allegedly used Tinder to meet victim enters plea in sex crimes case
A Fresno man who allegedly used the dating app Tinder to find a woman and try to sexually assault her pleaded not guilty to several felony sex crimes Thursday.
Fabian Ornelas, 30, is charged with sexual penetration by force, attempted rape, false imprisonment with violence and forcible oral copulation.
Fresno County Sheriff’s detectives arrested Ornelas on June 13 in Fresno after he allegedly kidnapped and attempted to rape the woman he met through Tinder.
Ornelas, who used the profile name “Dominick,” arranged to meet the woman. After spending some time together, she tried to leave. But Ornelas forced himself on her and attempted to rape her, according to detectives. The victim was able to get away and called the Sheriff’s Office to make a report.
After his arrest, Ornelas posted bail and was released the following day. But detectives received information about an additional victim and Ornelas was re-arrested five days later at a home in Salinas.
Ornelas, who is under quarantine at the Fresno County jail, did not appear in court Thursday. He entered his plea through his attorney Brian Andritch.
Ornelas is due back in court on July 22 for a pre-preliminary hearing and also on Aug. 5 for a preliminary hearing where a judge will decided if there is enough evidence to hold Ornelas over for a jury trial.
In the meantime, Judge James Kelley issued a criminal protective order for two of Ornelas’s alleged victims. The order will remain in effect for three years and he is prohibited from contacting them.
This story was originally published July 9, 2020 at 2:35 PM.
