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Man Set Free Despite Alleged DNA Match In Decade-Old Rape Of Young Girl

JURUPA VALLEY (CBSLA.com) — A tight-knit community in Rubidoux is outraged after a man accused of raping a young girl was set free.

"It's kind of scary, you know, because they shouldn't have let him out. He should stay there, forever," said Deborah VanKampen, a Rubidoux resident.

Authorities say Jose Alfredo Ruiz was a DNA match for a rape that happened back in 2001. (A previous version of this story stated that the victim was a child younger than 14. Prosecutors now say that statement is incorrect.)

"If he did it once it could happen again and who knows how many other victims are out there," said Isabel Castelan, another Rubidoux resident.

The 36-year-old was arrested on a separate felony charge in August, which was when investigators say they got a hit in their DNA database on a decade-old rape case.

The attack was reported in November of 2001 along the 5700 block of Mission Boulevard.

"It puts the community at risk," said DeAndre Williams, a Riverside resident. "You never really know if this guy is really recovered from that or if he still has issues where he can go out and rape somebody else. I wouldn't want him as my neighbor."

Since the statute of limitations has passed, the District Attorney's office cannot charge Ruiz with the crimes and had to let him go.

Just last week, the Senate Committee approved a bill that would allow sex crimes to be prosecuted regardless of the timeline.

Anyone with more information about this case was asked to call the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

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