A 27-year-old Santa Barbara man who was arrested Monday in connection with the alleged March 2025 rape of a 14-year-old Carpinteria girl pleaded not guilty in Santa Barbara Superior Court on Wednesday.

Court records show Saul Estrada Munoz was charged with kidnapping to commit robbery or rape, rape by force or fear, prevent/dissuage witness victim by threat, and two counts of threaten crime with intent to terrorize.

He was also charged with four enhancements: violent felony/kidnapping, violent felony/rape, used weapon during sex offense and personal use of a deadly/dangerous weapon.

The criminal complaint filed in Superior Court states Estrada Munoz is accused of using a knife and verbally threatening the victim, stating, “If you scream, I will kill you.”

He also allegedly told the victim he would “kill her if she told anyone.”

Estrada Munoz is due back in court for a preliminary hearing setting on Sept. 28 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 12.

He remained in Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office custody at the Santa Barbara Main Jail on a $1 million bail as of Wednesday afternoon.

The victim of the sexual assault was walking home on March 27, 2025 near Casitas Pass Road and Via Real, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Raquel Zick.

An “unknown suspect approached her and allegedly sexually assaulted her at knifepoint in a landscaped area near the bike path,” Zick said.

The Sheriff’s Office collected forensic evidence and submitted it for DNA analysis.

“Detectives continued pursuing available leads while awaiting forensic results. Based on the evidence and subsequent investigative follow-up, detectives developed probable cause and obtained a Ramey (arrest) warrant” for Estrada Munoz, Zick said.

Munoz was arrested on the 300 block of W. Arellega Street in Santa Barbara on Monday.

A search had been underway in the area of Castillo and Arrellaga streets in Santa Barbara at around 12:45 p.m.

A suspect, later identified by police as Estrada Munoz, was spotted coming out of an apartment at 313 Arrellaga St. when two officers took him into custody.