Sexual assault suspect may have attacked others, say local police

A man arrested last week for sexually assaulting a woman may have attacked others, San Marcos Police say. On Tuesday, the city issued a press release saying it’s believed there may be other victims of 35-year-old John Tate McFarland “from both the San Marcos and Austin areas.”

According to an affidavit of probable cause for his arrest, the victim in the case had gone downtown with friends on Feb. 20 and parked her car near Chimy’s, but became separated from the group after they went to Vodka Street. She told investigating officers she only had a few drinks, but the next thing she knew, she was at a stranger’s house and he was having sex with her. 

Hours later when he went to the bathroom, she used his phone to call her mother, who told police her daughter was saying she needed help and that she “sounded out of breath and told her not to call the number back.” She later told police she had asked him to take her home or call an Uber but he had refused. After he came out of the bathroom and realized she’d placed a call, however, he did take her home. The document does not say she gave him the address. “She said that he knew where she lived and she was scared,” the document states.

It didn’t take long for police to track the number to McFarland’s residence at 1816 Pearce Court but there was no one home.

Then, a friend of the victim’s got a message through Facebook saying she needed help, but that the friend believed she was now home. Officers returned to McFarland’s residence and noted a car in the driveway with a still-warm hood. Officer Ben Tureaud also noted that there was a “Ruger rifle with a suppressor and .308 ammo located in plain view on the back seat of the vehicle” as well as security cameras “on each side of his residence and one directly above his door.”

Officers next went to the victim’s residence and noted that she smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes, and could only remember what had transpired in “bits and pieces.” 

They took her to Central Texas Medical Center where she underwent a S.A.F.E. (Sexual Assault Forensic Exam). After that, she and her parents went to get her car “and her keys were in the car which means she made it to her car.” The victim also told police that she remembered looking for her car and “thinks that is when he got her.”

McFarland has a prior conviction in Hays County for indecent exposure in 2016. “This case also occurred in San Marcos and from the report it indicates that McFarland was at Capstone Cottages looking in a female’s window and exposing himself,” the affidavit says. 

McFarland was taken into custody on Feb. 28 in the 100 block of North LBJ Drive and booked into Hays County Jail for sexual assault, a second degree felony. He was released on a bond of $50,000 the next day.

“The San Marcos Police Department is committed to seeking justice for all survivors of sexual assault, and encourage any individuals who believe they have been assaulted to report the crimes committed against them,” the city’s press release said.

“In San Marcos and Hays County, there are several resources available to assist survivors of sexual assault including the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center and the Student Health Center at Texas State University-San Marcos.”

Members of the public who have any information about McFarland are urged to contact Detective Sandra Spriegel at 512-753-2369 or sspriegel@sanmarcostx.gov.