Sep 4, 2008

Man pleads not guilty in rape trial

By Banks Albach / Daily News Staff Writer

A 21-year-old man who allegedly raped a woman at gunpoint in East Palo Alto is putting his fate in the hands of a jury after pleading not guilty Wednesday in San Mateo County Superior Court.

Etuati Kitieona Umaleava, an East Palo Alto resident, is being held on $2 million bail and could face life in prison if convicted of kidnapping and raping the 20-year-old victim on Aug. 22. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 22.

The not guilty plea was a straight forward choice for Umaleava, because he isn't getting any deals, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

"He's facing possible life in prison in multiple ways," Wagstaffe said. "And from what I've heard, we've got a pretty good case."

According to authorities, Umaleava approached the victim, who was outside her home talking on a cell phone, brandished a sawed-off shotgun and ordered her to follow him. In a nearby alley, he forced oral copulation and raped her, holding the weapon in his hands the entire time, prosecutors said. The victim told police the suspect threatened to "kill her and her family if she did not comply." She immediately called authorities after he left.

If convicted of the charges filed against him - kidnapping with intent to rape, sexual assault by a stranger and two 10-year enhancements for using a firearm during the crime - Umaleava faces a minimum sentence of 50 years behind bars, Wagstaffe said.



E-mail Banks Albach at balbach@dailynewsgroup.com.