Man Accused Of Raping Banning Woman After Giving Her A Ride Home

BANNING, CA — A man accused of sexually assaulting a woman and burglarizing her home over six months ago was arrested and remained behind bars Sunday in lieu of $500,000 bail, authorities said.

On Feb. 13, police responded to a sexual assault call in the 5000 block of West Wilson Street, where a woman told officers that a man gave her a ride home from a Banning establishment and proceeded to rape her and ransack her residence before fleeing.

After an extensive investigation, Esteban Abarca, 29, was identified as a suspect and arrested Friday in Cabazon, according to the Banning Police Department.

A search warrant served at Abarca's home in the 4000 block of North E Street in San Bernardino turned up illegal firearms, police said.

He was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of rape, second-degree burglary and grand theft.

—City News Service