Detectives arrested a Phelan man this week who is accused of raping a 17-year-old girl while out of custody on bail in connection with another child molestation case, law enforcement officials said.
Daniel Jeffrey Chiaramonte, 34, was arrested Thursday afternoon, according to San Bernardino County jail records. He was booked on suspicion of rape by force or fear, making criminal threats, attempting to prevent a witness from reporting a crime, being a convicted felon in possession of a gun and ammunition, along with the sentence-enhancing allegations of using a gun in the crimes and committing crimes while out on bail.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges Friday during an arraignment hearing the Victorville branch of San Bernardino County Superior Court.
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The allegations stem from the June 6 rape of a 17-year-old girl in Phelan, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials said.
“Through investigation, it was determined the suspect of the rape was Daniel Chiaramonte, a 34-year-old male resident of Phelan,” the agency said in an written statement. “Detectives learned that Chiaramonte was aware of the investigation and he fled to the Las Vegas area.”
Investigators found and arrested the suspect about 4 p.m. Thursday in the area of Valley Center and La Laz drives in Victorville, booking records show.
At the time of the crime, Chiaramonte was free from custody on bail after pleading not guilty to a series of charges related to a “similar crime,” according to the statement.
He was already awaiting trial on five child molestation related charges stemming from an unrelated incident, as well as a count of being a convicted felon in possession of a gun, court records show.
Chiaramonte was being held without bail at the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto pending legal proceedings.
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Detectives believed there may be additional victims of the suspect and asked anyone with information to to contact Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001. Information may also be provided anonymously to the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Phelan man accused of raping 17-year-old girl while out on bail on other case