TAFT — A 54-year-old Bakersfield man is finally behind bars, two years after allegedly raping a 22-year-old woman in Taft.
German Tapia was booked into the Kern County Jail for rape by using force or fear and for false imprisonment. His bail has been set at $400,000.
According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Tapia lured the victim into a Taft Heights home on July 13, 2012, after she asked to use his cell phone.
Once inside, detectives said Tapia forcibly raped the victim, who was eventually able to escape and contact authorities.
An investigation ensued, concluding on January 20, 2015, when investigators obtained enough evidence and probable cause to arrest Tapia for raping the victim.
With the assistance of the Sheriff’s Special Operations Group, Tapia was taken into custody without incident at his residence in the 600 block of South Chester Avenue in Bakersfield.
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