DNA Evidence Found on Bulletproof Vest of San Jose Cop Accused of Rape: Sources

New information has emerged regarding evidence in a case for a San Jose police officer accused of raping a hotel maid.

Sources tell NBC Bay Area DNA evidence from Officer Geoffrey Evatt Graves' bulletproof vest is undergoing forensic analysis. Court documents also reveal other physical evidence supports the rape allegation.

Graves, 38, is charged with raping a woman whom authorities said he was tasked with helping after she had fled a fight with her drunken husband. He was arrested on Monday of one count of felony sexual assault following a five-month investigation.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney, however, ended up filing one count of forcible rape.

Graves, who is out of custody after posting bail, is scheduled to be formally arraigned on March 24. If convicted of the charge, he could face a maximum of eight years in prison and have to register as a sex offender, according to court documents filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court.

A judge may also decide at a probable cause hearing to force him to take an HIV test.

News of the officer's arrest have local domestic violence groups worried.

Kathleen Krenek, Next Door executive director, said other potential domestic violence victims are telling her they are now afraid to call police.

"We have a couple of people call and ask us 'Should I call police or should I just call you?'" she said.

San Jose Police Department Chief Larry Esquivel said he is concerned Graves' arrest will create public-trust issue in his department.

"It may and I hope it doesn't because it is an isolated incident," he said. "And you know we are not happy about this."

Sources also confirmed to NBC Bay Area the victim is an undocumented immigrant, which both the district attorney's office and Esquivel said will have no bearing on the case.

"We are here to protect our citizens no matter where they are from," Esquivel said. "It is our job now to build the community trust backup."

NBC Bay Area's Lisa Fernandez, Kris Sanchez and Kristofer Noceda contributed to this report.

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