Full Notification

Modesto, CA -

Detectives with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department have made an arrest in the case of a reported sexual assault, kidnapping and attempt murder which took place in late October.  

Arrested was 35-year-old Modesto resident and county probationer, Jermaine Rufus Beard.  The original incident was believed to have occurred during the late overnight hours of October 23, 2021 and into early October 24th.  

The confidential teen-aged victim was believed to have been abducted, sexually assaulted, violently threatened, and held against her will in a trailer park located in the 600 block of River Road in Modesto.  

Our detectives were originally brought into the case once contacted by social workers with Child Protective Services a few days after the assault.  The victim was able to eventually separate herself from her captor, contact authorities for assistance and get the proper medical healthcare treatment needed for her injuries.  Severity of the victim’s injuries were significant enough to require a brief hospitalization.  She was then taken into protective custody by CPS.     

The case was investigated by detectives assigned to our Family Crimes Unit.  Beard was identified as the suspect and was tracked to a residence in the 4500 block of Madeline Way in Modesto.  Members of the Stanislaus County SWAT team made the arrest and apprehension on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 without incident.  

Beard is being held in the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center in lieu of $1,000,000 bail.  He faces charges to include attempted murder, assault by force likely to produce great bodily injury, rape, abduction, carnal abuse of a child by force or violence, criminal threats, kidnapping and false imprisonment.  The case is still active and ongoing meaning investigators will have more to share in the way of evidence discovery with the District Attorney’s Office.  

Members of the community can contact Detective Cooper directly should they have witness information to share.  He can be contacted at 209-857-0132.  Probation Officer Victor Bugarin can also be contacted at 209-353-5525 for Spanish speaking purposes.  

Callers can also choose to remain anonymous by submitting their tips to Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636.  Tipsters can also submit tips at www.Stancrimetips.org or by using the mobile app “P3” which may result in your eligibility for a cash reward.