The Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday the arrest of a man whom they believed carried out several rape attacks and might be linked to others on Orange County’s east side. Deputies believe the suspect could be the man dubbed by many as the “east side rapist”.
Joel Pappas, 30, of Osteen, was arrested by Seminole County Sheriff’s Office investigators on December 21st in connection with a burglary and rape at the Fountains apartment complex in May 2009.
At a media briefing today, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said Pappas is believed to be connected to several home invasion/sexual battery attacks over the past nineteen months, with the most recent one at the Oakland Apartments in October 2010. Earlier home invasion and rape attacks in which Pappas might be involved are, at the Waterside Apartments near UCF in January 2010 and Heather Glen apartments in February earlier this year.
Sgt. Richard Mankewich, OCSO Sex Crimes Squad Supervisor, said he did not rule out that Pappas might be involved in other sexual battery attacks.
Pappas has been charged with several counts of armed sexual battery; kidnapping with intent to inflict bodily harm; armed burglary of an occupied structure with battery, possession of drugs without a prescription and possession of controlled substances with a prescription, including marijuana, among other charges.
He remains in the Seminole County Jail without bond.
