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Public’s Help Leads To Arrest In Rape Investigation, Fake Facebook Profile Used To Contact Victim

Carlos Bolanos, 22, of Madera (MCSO)

MADERA COUNTY — In mid-April 2019, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) issued a public ‘BOLO’ (Be On the Lookout) involving a dark colored late 90s or early 2000s model Chevy Astro-style van. A suspect or suspects connected to the vehicle had been involved in the rape of a teenage female in a rural area of Madera County, according to MCSO, which occurred on April 2.

The female juvenile victim was picked up in the City of Madera on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 2, then driven to a rural area of the county — after she was told by the suspect that she would be paid to sell fruit at a corner fruit stand alleged to be in the area.

Once in the area, MCSO says, the male suspect told the victim that he had a gun, threatened to kill her and her family and forced her to undress. The male suspect then assaulted the juvenile, at three different locations in the area. Although the victim did not see a firearm on the male suspect or around the vehicle, she did see a machete on the floor of the vehicle.

The victim provided a physical description of her attacker during a subsequent interview with MCSO detectives, describing him as a large Hispanic male in his 20s, with a dark complexion, shaved head and no facial hair. At the time of the assault, the male suspect was wearing khaki pants, black boots and a red shirt with small blue lettering over the right chest area.

Following the publication of the BOLO, detectives received numerous tips regarding possible sightings of the van depicted in the photo. During the course of the investigation, detectives discovered several credible leads to possible additional victims, as well as a potential suspect identity.

Fake Facebook profile allegedly used by Carlos Bolanos (MCSO)

MCSO detectives subsequently positively identified Madera resident Carlos Alfonso Bolanos, 22, as a subject of interest in this case.

On June 4, MCSO detectives located and arrested Bolanos, who was wanted on unrelated probation warrants out of Madera County. During an interview with detectives, Bolanos confessed to the rape reported in April. He admitted to using a fake Facebook profile with the name “Maritza Martinez,” along with a female profile photo, to contact and maintain communication with the victim.

Bolanos was transported and booked in at the Madera County Department of Corrections on multiple felony counts of rape of a victim under 18 years of age, lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years, kidnapping for the purpose of committing lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years and criminal threats.

Bolanos remains in custody and the investigation is ongoing. Madera County Sheriff’s Detectives are actively seeking any potential additional victims, male or female, who may have been solicited by the fake profile of “Maritza Martinez,” and assaulted by Carlos Bolanos.

If you or someone you know may be a victim, or have information regarding this case please contact the Madera County Sheriff’s Office at 559-675-7770.

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