☛ ER Probable cause hearing for man facing 70 charges expected to end today
A decision to hold over a man facing 70 counts related to the alleged continuous rape and abuse of his step-daughters is expected today.
Paul Alan Jasnosz, 42, has pleaded not guilty to the various charges, including 51 counts of rape by force, two counts of false imprisonment and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. The man, who was living in the Fairhaven/Samoa area prior to his arrest in early October, was on probation for assault and discharging a firearm at the time. He was also convicted of robbery in Orange County, Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos said.
A series of alleged crimes spanning about four days in early October led to the arrest of Jasnosz. He was arrested on Oct. 5, after his wife of 18 years and 22-year-old step-daughter told Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office officials he raped his step-daughter at gunpoint, threw her into a wall, threatened to kill them and locked them in his bedroom, according to a probable cause statement for his arrest.
“There were a lot of events that happened over that four-day period,” Deputy Julia Oliveira said at the Thursday preliminary hearing.
For privacy purposes, Jasnosz’s wife will be referred to as “Jane Doe No. 2,” the 22-year-old step-daughter will be “Jane Doe No. 1” and the 21-year-old step-daughter will be “Jane Doe No. 3.”
According to Thursday’s testimony, Jasnosz started molesting “Jane Doe No. 1” when she was 6 and started having unlawful sexual intercourse with her at least three times a week at age 14. He allegedly raped “Jane Doe No. 1” on Oct. 2 and again at gunpoint on Oct. 4.
Deputy Charles Lamb said after Jasnosz was arrested, he had “difficulty understanding the way he referred to himself.”
Jasnosz told Lamb he didn’t have a religion, but had a faith and that the “master” sent him a dream about going to jail.
“He wasn’t making a lot of sense,” Lamb said. Jasnosz also denied having sex with “Jane Doe No. 1,” Lamb said.
Gallegos said while Jasnosz is facing serious charges, he’s anticipating mental health issues will be raised. Conflict Counsel Chief Glenn Brown is representing Jasnosz.
When Lamb spoke with “Jane Doe No. 1” on Oct. 5, she was “terrified beyond words” and expressed fear that Jasnosz would kill her, her mother and law enforcement if he saw their car parked in front of the Sheriff’s Office, he testified.
Oliveira testified the alleged molestation and rape started while the family was living outside the area and continued through Oct. 4. If “Jane Doe No. 1” tried to resist her step-father, he would beat her and threatened to kill her or her family with a firearm or machete, Oliveira testified.
“She was afraid to resist him, she was still afraid during the interviews,” Oliveira said.
While the family was present during some of the alleged beatings, they were afraid to interfere, Oliveira said.
Jasnosz’s wife wouldn’t inquire about his relationship with “Jane Doe No. 1” because she’d get beaten if she did, Oliveira said.
Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Dale Reinholtsen is hearing the case, which is scheduled to continue today at 8:30 a.m.
Jasnosz remains in the Humboldt County jail on $300,000 bail.
(Karen Wilkinson can be reached at kwilkinson@eurekareporter.com or 707-269-7441.)
By KAREN WILKINSON, The Eureka Reporter
Published: Oct 30 2008, 9:57 PM · Updated: Oct 30 2008, 9:58 PM
