SANTA MARIA - Having escaped the most serious charge of forcible rape, 18 year old Shane Villalpando is now being charged with rape of an intoxicated person and three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, or statutory rape, all felonies.
The new charges were entered in Santa Maria court Thursday morning and Villalpando, who remains free on bail, will return to court on December 6 to enter a plea.
At his preliminary hearing earlier this month, the court heard that Villalpando's alleged victim, identified as Jane Doe because she's a minor, was 14 years old at the time of the alleged sexual encounters.
The lead Sheriff's Department investigator in the case testified that Jane Doe felt intimidated by Villalpando, who was a senior at St. Joseph High School at the time, and that she felt he forced her into having sex.
The court also heard Jane Doe repeatedly sneaked out of her home without her parents knowledge to be with Villalpando and that the two often drank alcohol together.
The court also heard Jane Doe initially told her parents she had consensual sex with Villalpando but then changed her mind and told them it was against her will.
The judge ruled there was not enough evidence to prosecute Villalpando on the charge of forcible rape.
