Orange County convicted rapist sentenced to 107 years to life in prison

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- A judge has sentenced a convicted rapist to 107 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting two women in Irvine and Newport Beach.

Officials say 32-year-old Travis Dewayne Batten Jr. raped an Irvine woman and sexually assaulted a Newport Beach woman after breaking into their homes. Authorities say Batten wore a mask and would watch the victims before attacking them.

The first attack happened on May 20, 2005. Officials say Batten broke into the 40-year-old victim's home in Newport Beach while she was out. When she came home, Batten attacked her and duct taped her hands and mouth. He sexually assaulted her and then left. The victim called police and investigators were able to collect Batten's DNA from the scene.

The second attack happened on the night of Nov. 30, 2006. Authorities say Batten broke into the Irvine apartment of a 21-year-old woman while she was showering, waited outside her bathroom and raped her when got out of the shower. Again, his DNA was collected from the crime scene. Investigators matched it to the 2005 sexual assault case.

Batten was arrested July 21, 2011, while driving to Fletcher Jones Motorcars dealership in Newport Beach, where he worked as a mechanic.

On March 27, a jury found Batten guilty of two felony counts of forcible rape, one felony count each of assault with intent to commit a sexual offense, assault with intent to commit a sexual offense during the commission of first degree burglary, sodomy by force, sexual penetration by foreign object by force, and kidnapping to commit a sex offense.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Sheila Hanson said at the sentencing on Friday that Batten is a dangerous man, and it was necessary for her to impose a sentence that would prevent him from being released and harming another person.