A Mexican national who told police he was living in the United States illegally and charged with violently raping a woman at a Strasburg hotel will have his case proceed to county court following a preliminary hearing.

Judge William Benner ruled March 4 that the case of Jose Luis Izquierdo-Sanchez, of Cárdenas in the Mexican state of Tabasco, could proceed to the Court of Common Pleas on two counts of rape forcible compulsion and one count each of strangulation, indecent assault, simple assault, sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault without consent.

Izquierdo-Sanchez, 34, is accused of raping and assaulting the victim at the Clarion Inn in the 1400 block of Historic Drive during the early morning hours of Dec. 11.

After being taken to a hospital the victim told police Izquierdo-Sanchez forced himself upon her and raped her inside a hotel room shortly before 1 a.m., leaving her with bruises and bite marks

Footage from inside the hotel showed the victim sitting on the floor of a hallway crying hysterically in the moments after the rape while a bystander began yelling at Izquierdo-Sanchez and asked for someone to call police.

The victim told police she had befriended members of a construction crew including Izquierdo-Sanchez who were working inside the hotel earlier in the day. Later in the evening Izquierdo-Sanchez invited her to continue drinking with him, she said.

That’s when Izquierdo-Sanchez forced himself upon her, knocked her to the ground and raped her, she told police. The victim told investigators she attempted to text a friend for help.

When speaking to police Izquierdo-Sanchez also admitted to being in the United States illegally. Police identified Izquierdo-Sanchez using his Mexican passport.

Izquierdo-Sanchez remains in Lancaster County Prison without bail due to the severity of the charges, his lack of ties to the community and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer request.

Strasburg Borough Police Sgt. Matthew Neidinger filed the charges.

Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Lapp will prosecute the case.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.