GLENDALE : Trial Ordered Over Attempted Rape

A man accused of kidnaping, assaulting and attempting to rape a 71-year-old woman in a Glendale church was ordered to stand trial Tuesday.

Filiberto Gutierrez Maldonado, 34, a transient, kept his head down as Glendale Municipal Judge Barbara Lee Burke told him that sufficient evidence had been presented to warrant a trial. Burke ordered Maldonado, who remains in custody in lieu of $50,000 bail, to appear for arraignment in Pasadena Superior Court on Sept. 29.

Maldonado faces three felony counts of kidnaping for purposes of rape, assault with intent to commit rape and attempted rape stemming from an Aug. 3 attack inside Incarnation Roman Catholic Church on North Brand Boulevard. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 11 years in state prison, prosecutors said.

During a brief preliminary hearing Tuesday, Officer Espie Fernandez of the Glendale police said the victim was praying in the church sanctuary when Maldonado approached, gave her a “bear hug” from behind and dragged her into the women’s restroom.