A Goleta man has pleaded not guilty to nearly two dozen felony charges alleging he raped, assaulted and stalked a woman over a period of more than a year.

Jesse Marquez, 39, who listed his occupation on the jail booking form as “rehab trainer,” entered the pleas last week before Superior Court Judge Thomas R. Adams.

Marquez was arrested April 23 by detectives at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, culminating an investigation that began in November 2023 of “an extensive case of domestic violence that occurred in Carpinteria,” according to Raquel Zick, sheriff’s public information officer.

The District Attorney’s Office charged Marquez with five counts of forcible rape, six counts of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, five counts of corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant, two counts of false imprisonment by violence, two counts of making criminal threats, and one count of stalking.

The alleged offenses occurred between Feb. 18, 2023, and April 23, 2024 — some in Santa Barbara County and others in Riverside County, according to the criminal complaint.

The single alleged victim in the case was identified in the complaint as Jane Doe.

“The suspect and the victim are familiar with one another,” Zick said, but no other information about her was released.

Marquez allegedly raped and/or assaulted the woman in Santa Barbara County on Feb. 18, April 8, May 12, June 16, July 15 and Nov. 11, 2023, according to the criminal complaint.

Additionally, he allegedly raped and assaulted her on March 17, 2023, in Riverside County.

In one of the attacks, he allegedly wielded a hammer against the victim, according to the criminal complaint.

He also is accused of stalking the woman between April 8, 2023 and April 23, 2024.

State law allows all of the charges in this case to be tried in one location — Santa Barbara County — even though they occurred in separate jurisdictions.

Marquez remains in custody without bail at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail.

A criminal protective order for the woman was issued in the case, according to court records.

He is due back in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing setting before Judge Denise deBellefeuille.

He pleaded no contest in 2007 to multiple robbery charges, false imprisonment with violence, plus criminal enhancements, and was sentenced to seven years in state prison, according to Superior Court records.

That conviction is being alleged as one strike under the state’s Three Strikes enhanced-sentencing law.

“The Sheriff’s Office is aware that survivors of sexual assault and abuse are often reluctant to come forward for many different reasons,” Zick said. “We have many resources available regardless of your decision to participate in a criminal investigation.”

She added that sheriff’s detectives coordinate closely with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, Victim-Witness Program to ensure the needs of survivors are not overshadowed by the focus on the investigation and prosecution of the accused.

Victim Advocates are available to ensure that survivors are kept informed and supported throughout the criminal justice process. Survivors have the option of contacting the Victim-Witness Assistance Program directly at 805.568.2400 or toll free at 855.840.3232.

“The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind survivors that they can also find support services through our community partner, Standing Together to End Sexual Assault (STESA),” Zick said. 

Services offered by STESA include a confidential 24-hour hotline, legal and medical advocacy and accompaniment, and counseling.

A STESA advocate can be reached at any time by calling 805.564.3696.