CHOWCHILLA, Calif. (KMJ/KFSN) — Chowchilla Police say they have arrested a parolee for the violent sexual assault of a minor.
Arthur Dean Knapp, 40, is accused of multiple crimes, including rape, assault and attempted murder.
The department received a call back on August 1 about the assault.
The victim was so severely injured that they were rushed to Valley Children’s Hospital, where they underwent surgery.
For the victim’s privacy, an age and gender is not being provided.
Officers identified Knapp as the suspect in the assault and arrested him at his parents’ home, which is also his registered parole address, near Myer Drive and Kites Way in Chowchilla.
In a news release, the Chowchilla Police Department defended its decision not to release any details about the crime until now, saying that they felt there was no threat to the community and wanted to protect the privacy of the victim.
Knapp was booked into the Madera County Jail, where he being held without bail.
Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.
