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Saturday, March 29, 1997
With criminal case stalled, rape victim sues
alleged attacker
AUSTIN (AP) - Almost two years after Lupe Castillo accused
a man of raping her, she says the criminal justice system has
stalled.
So, she decided to take matters into her own hands and sue
Charles Condran, her accused attacker.
The 25-year-old said money isn't the issue. She knows Condran,
27, received a court-appointed lawyer because he couldn't pay
for his first attorney. Her civil lawsuit for mental anguish,
filed Monday, doesn't mention a dollar amount.
"I figured nothing had really been done about taking care
of him in the criminal system," Ms. Castillo said. "If
we don't get him one way, I'll get him another way. I want him
to know I'm here. I'm not afraid of him."
Condran, a former Round Rock car salesman, has maintained his
innocence ever since he was charged with sexual assault in the
case in May 1995.
Whatever the results of the criminal case, Ms. Castillo's lawsuit
brought praise from Jamie Avila, executive director of the Austin
Rape Crisis Center. Avila said rape victims seldom report rapes
to police, much less take on their attacker in civil court.
"I think she shows a lot of courage to take it to court,"
Avila said. "We support and applaud her efforts."
In addition to the sexual assault charge against him in Castillo's
case, Condran has two attempted sexual assault cases pending in
Travis County. In Collin County, north of Dallas, he also faces
sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault charges. Send
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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