He broke into a home twice with ‘intent to commit rape.’ Now he’s been sentenced to life

A would-be rapist was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison.

He will be eligible for parole after serving 14 years and four months, according to the Madera County District Attorney’s Office.

Floriberto Monterubio Santiago was convicted in January on two counts of residential burglary, one count of assault with intent to commit rape during the commission of a residential burglary and one count of making criminal threats.

This ends a case that started in July 2018, when Santiago twice broke into a home near his own in Madera.

Both times he entered through a window around 5 a.m. and sought out the bedrooms of two girls — 13 and 19 — who lived at the house. In both cases the girl were sleeping but woke up and were able to call for help before he escaped. During the second break-in, he was confronted by the girls’ parents. He told them he was with a Mexican cartel gang and promised to return.

Madera police arrested Santiago at his home, which was across the street from the victims’ residence. He was hiding under a bed, according to the DA.

In a statement, the district attorney’s office thanked the witnesses who testified in open court and called them “very brave in facing the defendant after he committed these terrifying crimes against them.”