Visalia Man Convicted of Attempted Sexual Assault, Evading Police
On August 8, 2023, in Department 5 of the Tulare County Superior Court, TCDA prosecutors secured a guilty verdict against Guido Vientresca, age 53, for multiple crimes starting in 2019.
In the evening of September 22, 2019, Visalia Police Department officers learned that Vientresca had taken an adult female hostage in her home where he beat her, threatened her with a knife, and attempted to sexually assault her. When officers entered the home the victim, who knew Vientresca, came running out of a closet in the back of the house. For the next several hours, Vientresca barricaded himself in a bathroom while continually threatening officers and himself with the knife, as well as improvised torches made from aerosol cans and a lighter. With the victim safely out of the house, officers withdrew from the residence and set up surveillance. However, Vientresca managed to flee.
Vientresca would not be located until July 20, 2022, when police learned that he intended to return to the victim’s residence. After setting up an operation to arrest him, officers attempted a felony traffic stop but Vientresca again fled by smashing a police cruiser and eluding officers to Highway 99 where he headed north. Officers called off the pursuit due to safety concerns. Vientresca was ultimately arrested in Madera County where he unsuccessfully again attempted to flee law enforcement pursuit.
At trial, a Tulare County jury found Vientresca guilty of attempted sexual assault by use of force, assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, false imprisonment by violence, three counts of resisting an executive officer, two counts of assault on a peace officer, and fleeing a peace officer. Multiple counts are enhanced with special allegations that he used a deadly weapon.
At sentencing, Vientresca faces over 12 years in state prison, the maximum penalty under current California sentencing laws. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. Sentencing is scheduled for August 29, 2023.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Victoria Frazer.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Chief Deputy District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494