Texas Man Charged in 2013 New Bedford Rape Cases

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — A Texas man has been brought back to Massachusetts and arraigned on charges related to a series of violent sexual assaults on four female victims in New Bedford in 2013.

According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III, Orlando Robles, 51, was arraigned on July 30 on charges of kidnapping, two counts of rape, indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, nine counts of assault and battery, assault with intent to commit an indecent assault and battery, and use of a vehicle in commission of a crime.

Robles was ordered held without bail and will next appear in court on September 9.

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Details of the 2013 New Bedford Attacks

According to Quinn, Robles is alleged to have violently attacked four adult women in New Bedford between June and July of 2013. None of the women knew Robles.

The D.A.’s Office said the first victim was walking home in June 2013 when a man offered her a ride, stating he was on his way to pick up his child.

“Once inside the vehicle, the male drove to a secluded area where he attacked the victim, choked her, grabbed her breasts, and attempted to further sexually assault her,” according to the D.A.’s Office. “As the victim struggled and attempted to pull away, the male began striking her in the head.

The second victim was “attacked as she attempted to exit her vehicle in the driveway of her home. A male grabbed the victim by the throat and forced her into the vehicle. He raped the victim and punched her in the face as she struggled to get away,” the D.A.’s Office said.

The third victim, according to the D.A.’s Office, “was attacked as she was exiting her vehicle outside of her home. A male attacked the victim, grabbed her by the throat, and forced her into the vehicle. He then raped the victim and fled.”

The fourth victim “was attacked as she entered her vehicle in the downtown area of New Bedford. The male opened her car door and punched her in the face. The victim struggled with the male at which time he raped her and then fled.”

How Robles Was Identified

Robles’ truck was identified as being in the area of the fourth attack. Police interviewed him then, and he told them he was from Texas. The next day, he allegedly fled Massachusetts and returned to Texas, before recently being brought back to Massachusetts after rendition.

“The defendant was identified by certain victims out of photo arrays and a CODIS hit came back to this defendant,” the D.A.’s Office said.