Man convicted of sexually assaulting hikers and sleeping women in Ventura County

A Woodland Hills man has been convicted of sexually assaulting hikers and sleeping women in Ventura County.

Edgar Rodriguez Ruelas, 42, was convicted by a jury May 2 of five felonies in connection with assaults in Thousand Oaks and Oak Park.

According to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, the attacks occurred between June 2017 and March 2020 and involved five female victims.

The first attack occurred on June 15, 2017. Ruelas entered an apartment in Thousand Oaks through an unlocked door early that morning.

The victim, a 25-year-old woman, woke up from the commotion and saw Ruelas opening her bedroom door. He tried to force himself onto her bed, but the woman resisted. She screamed for help to her roommate and after a brief struggle, the suspect ran away.

The second attack occurred on July 14, 2017, when Ruelas spotted a woman hiking alone in Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks around 5:45 a.m

He chased the woman through the park before jumping out from behind bushes, wearing all-black clothing and a face mask. He threw the victim to the ground, straddled her and groped her, authorities said.

The woman warned him that she had already called the police and her husband, which eventually caused Ruelas to flee. Surveillance video showed Ruelas’ car speeding away from the trailhead and through a surrounding neighborhood.

The third attack occurred in the early morning of Oct. 25, 2017, when Ruelas entered a Thousand Oaks apartment through an open door while a woman and her boyfriend were sleeping.

The woman woke up to find Ruelas standing over her. According to court documents, he placed one hand over the victim’s mouth while he sexually assaulted her with the other hand. At one point, the hand covering the victim’s mouth moved and she screamed for her friend to help.

Then Ruelas left and ran out the front door. The victim’s friend chased Ruelas down the street and engaged in a physical altercation with him before Ruelas broke free and fled.

The fourth attack occurred on April 12, 2019 at approximately 5:40 p.m. on a trail in Oak Park

Ruelas hid behind bushes on the trail, wearing all-black clothing and a ski mask. He spotted a woman, threw her to the ground and grabbed her clothing as she struggled.

The woman screamed for help while struggling with Ruelas. She told him that other people knew her whereabouts and he eventually ran away. The woman then spotted a dog handler who helped her call the police.

The fifth attack occurred on March 5, 2020, on a trail in Oak Park. The victim was a 16-year-old girl. Ruelas, once again hiding behind bushes, jumped out and pushed the girl to the ground before covering her mouth with his hand.

The girl screamed for help and ended up hitting Ruelas with a ukulele she was holding. She broke free and ran down the path until she found someone to help her call 911.

Ventura County officers responded to the scene and discovered surveillance video from a nearby neighborhood. The video showed the girl entering the path, and 30 seconds later, Ruelas was seen parking his car nearby and driving to the same path.

Approximately 23 minutes later, the suspect was seen running back to his car and driving away. Investigators later identified the license plate, which ultimately led to Ruelas’ arrest.

Forensic scientists conducted DNA tests on several items from the various attacks, which showed a positive link to Ruelas’ DNA.

Ruelas was found guilty of:

• Assault with intent to commit a violent sexual crime against a person under 18 years of age
• Two counts of assault with intent to commit a sex crime against an adult
• Assault with intent to commit a sex crime during a residential burglary
• Violent sexual penetration by a foreign body

Specific claims that have been shown to be true include:

• Committing a felony residential burglary with the intent to commit a sexual crime
• The victim was at risk
• The manner in which the crime was committed suggests planning, sophistication, or professionalism
• Ruelas has behaved violently and “poses a serious danger to society”

“Ruelas is one of the most dangerous sex offenders arrested in Ventura County in recent history,” said Brent Nibecker, an assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case. “I am indebted to the courageous victims in this case who not only stood up to Ruelas when he attacked, but also had the courage to testify in court and ensure that he could never again target women.”

A court hearing is scheduled for June 5, where he could face up to 32 years to life in prison and an additional 21 years in prison.