A 35-year-old man was arraigned this week on charges of attempted murder, rape and other violent felonies stemming from incidents that were reported in 2025 and earlier this year.
Sergio Sanchez Horta was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on April 9 and made his first court appearance April 13.
At his arraignment hearing, he was charged with:
Prosecutors said the charges originated from two separate incidents that happened on Navy Drive – one victim was a minor and the other was an adult.
According to prosecutors, in December 2025, Horta allegedly picked up a minor while he was driving a white van with black lettering on the side.
Allegedly, he assaulted her at gunpoint, and later released her.
In January, Horta allegedly picked up an adult in the same white van he used previously. However, prosecutors said the woman became scared when she saw a firearm and managed to escape the vehicle by opening the van door.
Prosecutors said before the woman was able to flee she was shot by Horta.
“The violent and predatory nature of these crimes is deeply concerning,” San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas said in a statement. “Our office is committed to seeking justice for the victims and ensuring that this individual is held fully accountable.”
Freitas encouraged anyone who may have had contact with Horta to come forward.
Horta is scheduled to appear in court for further arraignment on May 1.
Record reporter Victoria Franco covers public safety in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at vfranco@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Man faces attempted murder, rape charges in San Joaquin County
Reporting by Victoria Franco, The Stockton Record / The Record
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