Convicted Rapist Gets 50 Years to Life

A twice-deported illegal immigrant who pleaded guilty to raping two Thousand Oaks women earlier this year has been sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.

Jose Zavala, 22, was convicted of raping a 64-year-old woman and a 57-year-old woman and burglarizing the house of a third woman in a string of incidents that terrorized the Old Town neighborhood in January and February.

He had previously been deported for pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges, and again for a drug arrest.

“He will have to serve 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole,” said Patricia Murphy, supervisor of the sexual assault unit of the Ventura County district attorney’s office. “Just because he is eligible doesn’t mean he will get it.”