'He preys on the vulnerable': Serial rapist convicted, jury hands down 4 life sentences

ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- On Thursday, an Ector County jury convicted Javier Arias on three counts of Aggravated Kidnapping, two counts of Sexual Assault, and two counts of Attempt to Commit Aggravated Sexual Assault, charges stemming from 2022 when he kidnapped and raped or attempted to rape four homeless women in the community. Upon his conviction, the jury handed down four life sentences, plus 60 years in prison.

In April of 2022, and then again on July 7, July 11, and July 20 of that same year, Arias approached four women at various locations in Odessa; one was found downtown, another outside a hotel on Highway 80, and two others were found outside game rooms in Ector County. Arias then offered to help each woman, either by giving them a ride, or offeri...