The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has filed 15 criminal counts against a 56-year-old man accused of repeatedly attacking, strangling, restraining, threatening, and sexually assaulting the same woman over several days.

Robert Angel Arias is charged with 10 felonies and five misdemeanors stemming from alleged incidents between Thursday, Oct. 15, and Wednesday, Oct. 21, according to a criminal complaint filed in Fresno County Superior Court.

Arias is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in Department 95.

The most serious allegations include torture, forcible rape, sexual battery by restraint, false imprisonment by violence, assault with a deadly weapon, assault likely to produce great bodily injury, corporal injury involving a domestic relationship, and criminal threats.

The complaint provides the first detailed look at the charges prosecutors chose to file after Fresno police told GV Wire last week that Arias allegedly subjected the woman to a series of attacks beginning shortly after his release from jail.

Prosecutors Charge Torture Over Oct. 21 Attack

The first four felony counts stem from an alleged attack Oct. 21.

Prosecutors accuse Arias of torture, alleging that he intentionally inflicted great bodily injury on the woman to cause “cruel and extreme pain and suffering” for revenge, extortion, persuasion, or a sadistic purpose. He is also charged with assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury.

The assault count carries an allegation that Arias personally inflicted great bodily injury under circumstances involving domestic violence.

Arias is additionally charged with false imprisonment by violence. Prosecutors allege he used a ligature as a deadly and dangerous weapon during the offense. He also faces a felony criminal threats charge and a misdemeanor count of violating a protective order that day.

Fresno police previously told GV Wire that Arias entered the woman’s residence about 3:30 a.m. Oct. 21 and took her cellphone, waking her.

Police alleged Arias attempted to tie her wrists and ankles as she resisted, punched her until she was “seeing stars,” and ultimately tied her ankles.

Investigators said Arias then repeatedly choked and strangled the woman until she lost consciousness. The woman told officers she could not remember how many times she passed out.

Police alleged that each time the woman lost consciousness, Arias blew into her face and attempted to revive her before strangling her again while she remained tied up.

Arias eventually stopped and allowed the woman to get their son ready for school, police said. He allegedly threatened to kill her before leaving with two of her cellphones and $110.

Complaint Includes Forcible Rape Charge

The complaint also formally charges Arias with forcible rape over an alleged Oct. 17 assault.

Prosecutors allege Arias had sexual intercourse with the woman against her will through force, violence, duress, menace, and fear of immediate bodily injury.

Police previously told GV Wire that Arias forced his way into the woman’s bedroom later Oct. 17 and sexually assaulted her despite repeated verbal objections and physical resistance.

The complaint also charges Arias with assault likely to produce great bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon involving a knife, criminal threats, and corporal injury involving a spouse, cohabitant, former partner, dating partner, or child’s parent for alleged conduct that day.

Police said the alleged violence early Oct. 17 included Arias pushing the woman onto a toilet seat and strangling her with his hands until she lost consciousness multiple times.

Investigators said Arias also held a folding knife against the woman’s face and neck and moved it across her throat in a slicing motion. The woman told police she was unable to escape because of Arias’ actions and intimidation.

Police said she suffered visible bruising and redness to her neck, arms, and head.

Sexual Battery Alleged the Following Day

Prosecutors separately charged Arias with felony sexual battery by restraint for alleged conduct Oct. 18.

The complaint alleges Arias touched an intimate part of the woman while she was unlawfully restrained, against her will, for sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse. A conviction on the charge would require sex-offender registration, according to the complaint.

Police previously told GV Wire that Arias continued unwanted sexual conduct that Sunday by requesting sexual acts from the woman.

Arias also faces a misdemeanor charge of violating a protective order on Oct. 18.

Five Alleged Protective-Order Violations

The complaint charges Arias with five separate misdemeanor violations of a protective or stay-away order, one for each day on Oct. 15, Oct. 16, Oct. 17, Oct. 18, and Oct. 21.

Police said the series of incidents began after Arias had been released from jail.

On Oct. 15, Arias allegedly called the woman despite a criminal protective order prohibiting contact.

Police said Arias returned to her residence the next day. The woman initially allowed him inside because she believed he intended only to collect his belongings, but investigators said he remained and became increasingly aggressive.

The woman told investigators she believed Arias was under the influence of methamphetamine based on his behavior, his history of methamphetamine use, and statements he made to her.

Prosecutors Cite Prior Domestic Violence Conviction

The complaint alleges Arias has a previous Fresno County conviction for corporal injury involving a spouse or other qualifying domestic relationship.

Court records cited in the complaint state the prior offense occurred May 26, 2021, and Arias was convicted June 13, 2024. Prosecutors are using that conviction as an allegation attached to the new corporal injury charge.

Prosecutors also allege the previous conviction qualifies as a prior serious or violent felony conviction under California’s sentencing laws and allege Arias is therefore ineligible to serve a qualifying sentence in county jail.

The complaint also states prosecutors intend, if legally permitted, to introduce evidence of Arias’ other alleged acts of domestic violence.

Complaint Differs From Initial Jail Records

The formal complaint differs in some respects from the jail booking information available when GV Wire first reported Arias’ arrest Friday.

Jail records at the time listed allegations including torture, sexual battery, corporal injury, false imprisonment, assault likely to cause great bodily injury, criminal threats, violating a protective order, and first-degree burglary. They listed bail amounts totaling $675,000.

The criminal complaint filed by prosecutors does not charge Arias with burglary. It does, however, formally charge him with forcible rape and assault with a deadly weapon, along with additional counts and sentencing allegations not reflected in the initial jail-record summary.

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