By Guy Leonard, County Times
HOLLYWOOD, Md. (March 5, 2009)—A man accused of raping a woman at a party last year in Lexington Park has waived his right to have a trial within 180 days of being charged, since his public defender said he needed more time to pore over DNA evidence and build a defense.
Alverio Dominguez, 24, a Guatemalan national, may also challenge a statement he gave police during their investigation, according to his attorney John Getz.
“He has told me he did not understand his rights,” Getz told Circuit Court Judge C. Clarke Raley.
Dominguez was charged with allegedly raping and assaulting a female victim while she slept during a party at the victim’s home in the late night hours of July 12, 2008.
The victim attempted to fight off Dominguez’s alleged assault, charging documents against the defendant state, and several witnesses were said to have seen him flee the residence after the victim cried for help.
Witnesses chased Dominguez to a nearby house, court papers reveal, and detectives stated they found him hiding under a bed in a back room of the house.
Detectives with the Bureau of Criminal Investigations arrested Dominguez after they found scratch marks on the defendant’s chest and stomach areas, and he has been held ever since in the county detention facility.
Dominguez proceeded with his motions hearing Feb. 26 with the aid of a Spanish speaking interpreter.
Assistant State’s Attorney Robyn Riddle said of the alleged victim that “she would like to voice her displeasure about this [case] going on and on” but Riddle herself said she understood that the defense counsel needed more time to review the DNA evidence the state had provided.
Raley agreed that the defense “could not reasonably be expected to move forward” with their case in just 30 days.
If convicted, Dominguez could spend up to 20 years in jail for the second-degree rape charge.