Alhambra Man Pleads Not Guilty of Rape
Edgar Solorzano of Alhambra pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of rape in connection with the alleged drugging and rape of an 18-year-old woman at a Pasadena office building.
The woman had been sexually assaulted after she was given a drink containing a date rape drug, police said. She was still under the influence of the drug the following day and did not notify police of the attack until two days after the attack.
Detectives said little evidence remained, but Solorzano was identified as a suspect.
Detectives contacted local forensic specialists and learned of a new procedure -- gas chromatograph mass spectrometry -- that can detect minute amounts of a date rape drug in the victim's hair.
Detectives sent strands of the victim's hair to Toxicology Associates Inc., a lab in Columbus, Ohio that specializes in date rape analysis. The lab report showed that traces of the drug Rohypnol were found in the victim's hair.
Solorzano also pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual battery that was filed against agianst him after a second female victim was located.
Solorzano is free on a $50,000 bond. He is due back in court for a pre-trial hearing April 25.