CHOWCHILLA, Calif. (KMJ/KFSN) — Charges are now filed against the man accused of multiple crimes, including rape, assault and attempted murder of a child in Chowchilla.
Arthur Dean Knapp now faces multiple charges, including rape and assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm.
Chowchilla Police arrested the 40-year-old after the alleged crime on August 1.
Officials were able to delay filing the charges because he was in jail on a 10-day hold by another agency.
“We’re just making sure that we get those charges filed properly,” says Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno. “We like to take the time that we have to staff the case, and get all of the best kinds here in the office to give us their perspective so we get things filed the right way the first time so we don’t have to make a lot of changes moving forward.”
Knapp has an 18-year criminal history.
He was most recently sentenced to six years in prison in 2021, but was released in March 2024 due to credits he received.
