A California man was arrested. Violent sexual assault Police say he is a juvenile and has a lengthy criminal history.
The victim sustained serious injuries in the attack and was taken to Children’s Hospital for surgery.
“You’re a monster for taking away the innocence of a minor like that.”
Chowchilla police and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office searched the home of Arthur Dean Knapp, 40, who was arrested in connection with the assault that occurred Thursday.
“He’s an absolute monster to do something like this. He’s an absolute monster to take away the innocence of a minor like this,” Chowchilla Police Chief Jeffrey Palmer said.
“He’s a dangerous individual and quite frankly, after this incident, he’s someone who should never be on the streets,” he added.
Knapp faces charges including rape, assault and attempted murder.
Police said Knapp had a lengthy criminal history, including a conviction for domestic violence in 2019. He was sentenced to six years in prison and then sentenced again to six years in prison for assault and other offenses in 2021. Knapp was on parole when he was arrested on the new charges.
Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno told KFSN-TV that the law has become more lenient over the past decade, but that once the investigation is complete, she will ensure Knapp is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Palmer asked the community to respect the victim’s privacy and not try to identify him.
“We need to talk about these young victims right now who are having to rebuild their lives. They don’t need everyone asking them on social media who this victim is and, frankly, having their right to privacy violated,” he said.
KFSN Male booking photo in a news report on YouTube.
Chowchilla is a small town in central California with a population of about 20,000.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censorship and sign up for our newsletter to receive stories like this directly to your inbox. Register here!
