ST. GEORGE, Utah, Nov. 3, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A man who allegedly broke into Utah Tech University student housings units and raped a juvenile female, then attempted to rape two adult females, has been booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility.
Alex Gabriel Baraga, 22, was booked Friday for investigation of:
- Rape as a first-degree felony
- Two counts of rape as a second-degree felony
- Three counts of burglary of a dwelling, a second-degree felony
- Two counts of lewdness, a third-degree felony
- Criminal trespass, a class A misdemeanor
Baragas’ affidavit, filed by an officer with the Utah Tech Police Department, says that early Friday morning, a call came to dispatch by a woman reporting she awoke to find a man, naked from the waist down in her bed on top of her.
“Victim #1 stated she tried to push him off and he held her down and attempted multiple times to reach his hands under her sheet,” say arrest documents for Baraga. “Victim #1 was able to push him off and he got up and got dressed and told the victim ‘Please don’t call anyone. I’m drunk.'”
While the officer was responding to the first scene, a call came to dispatch from a second woman in another apartment.
“She awoke in her bed to a naked male subject in her bed holding her or ‘spooning’ her from behind,” Baraga’s affidavit says. “Victim #2 attempted to get out of bed and the male subject held her tighter as if he was trying to hold her down. Victim #2 was able to get away, turn on a light, and yell for help.
“The suspect was still naked in her bed and got up, got dressed, and told the victim ‘please don’t call anyone. I’m drunk.’ The male dressed and fled the apartment.”
Surveillance footage revealed the suspect had gone to another apartment, so police interviewed the females at that residence. A juvenile, indentified as Victim #3, said she recognized the man whose image she was shown because she also awoke with him on top of her, having sex and not wearing a condom.
“Victim #3 pushed the subject off and told him he was not supposed to be there. The suspect got up and got dressed and fled the apartment. Victim #3 was taken to the Justice Center for a forensic exam by a qualified nurse.”
Through investigation, police identified the suspect as Barajas, a former Utah Tech student.
“We found on the video that Alex snuck into the building at about 0230 hours and made his way to the fourth floor, which is only for female students,” arrest documents say.
“Alex walked the hallway and began checking the entrance doors to almost all 16 apartments. Alex snuck into the building where he has no legal standing, entered three apartments to which he had no reason to be in, and raped a 17-year-old female,” his affidavit says.
“Alex also attempted to rape two other females, committing or attempting to commit more felonies. Alex was also undressed and held his naked body against the two victims who were able avoid being raped. When law enforcement arrived at the apartment complex Alex was seen ducking and hiding from officers and finally leaving the building in a full run.”
The officer suggested no bail for Baragas.
“Alex has shown he is a danger to society and women by sneaking into a student housing complex and attacking three young women in the course of 45 minutes. Alex also had approached some other male students and asked them for a ride stating he needed to get out of town.”
Baragas was ordered held without bail.
