SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was charged today with the cold case rapes of a woman and girl in the 1990s after being identified through DNA. A third victim was discovered during the investigation. Kevin Konther, 53, Highland, was charged in an amended complaint with two felony counts each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, and aggravated sexual assault of a child, and one felony count each of forcible lewd acts upon a child under 14 and lewd acts upon a child under 14, with sentencing enhancement allegations for kidnapping and sexual assault of multiple victims. Konther is being held on $1.2 million bail and faces a maximum sentence of 140 years to life in state prison. The defendant is scheduled for a continued arraignment on Jan. 17, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.

On Oct. 21, 1995, Konther is accused of approaching 9-year-old Jane Doe as she walked home at night through Serrano Creek Park in Lake Forest. The defendant is accused of kidnapping the victim by pulling her into the brush and proceeding to forcibly sexually assault Jane Doe. DNA from the defendant was recovered during an exam of the victim and the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) investigated this case.

On June 2, 1! 998, Konther is accused of grabbing 31-year-old Jane Doe as she jogged on a trail in Lake Forest. The defendant is accused of pulling the victim into the bushes, then forcibly raping and orally copulating her. Konther is accused of fleeing the scene. DNA was recovered from the suspect during OCSD's investigation.

Between January 2002 and December 2003, the defendant is accused of committing lewd acts against 12-year-old Jane Doe 3 on multiple occasions. Konther was in a position of trust with access to the victim.

The Orange County Crime Lab (OCCL) tested the DNA from the attacks against Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 and they were found to match the same suspect. On April 6, 2012, the Orange County District Attorney's Office filed a John Doe warrant for two felony counts each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, and aggravated sexual assault of a child, and one felony count of lewd acts upon a child under 14, with sentencing enhancement allegations for kidnapping and rape of multiple victims.

In 2018, OCSD identified Konther as a suspect in the 1995 and 1998 cases through the use of DNA. Further investigation led to the discovery of crimes Konther is accused of committing against Jane Doe 3.

On Jan. 10, 2019, OCSD arrested Konther in Highland.