PHOENIX -- The ex-girlfriend of the man arrested in connection with the Chandler serial rapist case said she was shocked to learn Santana Batiz Aceves had been arrested.

"I never imagined," said Maria Penuelas. "Never imagined he could be the serial rapist."

VIDEO: Chandler Rapist Caught, Police Say

Aceves was booked into a Maricopa County jail on 25 counts of kidnapping, sexual assault and trespassing in connection with the assaults. Police said that DNA positively links the man to the case.

Penuelas said Aceves is now married, has a daughter in California, and is helping to raise two kids that are not his. She said he was always good to her.

Word spread quickly of the arrest.

The next-door neighbor of the man accused of being the Chandler rapist said late Saturday that Aceves "was a normal guy."

VIDEO: 1/12/08 - Aceves Neighbor Reacts

Joe Otega said he is still trying to process the news.

"I see the face in the paper, I see the face on TV but I never thought it was him," Otega said.

Otega said Aceves as best he could tell led an ordinary life with his wife and two children.

"He was a normal guy, a good friend, in love with his kids, in love with his wife," Otega said. "I don't know what to say."

Authorities said Aceves worked as a heavy equipment operator.

All of the attacks in the Chandler rapist case happened within a two mile radius of the home, an area densely populated with young girls, which police said the Chandler rapist targeted.

Aceves' home is located between two junior high schools.

The community has been on alert since the rapist first struck June of '06.

"Any time they catch someone like that, it's a relief to have someone like that off the streets," said another Chandler resident, Alison Carpenter.

Cindy Mulgrew said the postman spotted a man fitting the description just a week ago.

"We looked at the picture and he said, 'Yes, that is the guy i just saw' and we called the police department," Mulgrew said.

Other neighbors said Aceves was known as "Chopra," which means "shortie." Some said tghey believe he had a girlfriend nearby.

The courtyard in front of his home seemed to be a magnet for neighborhood kids, residents said.

Many people in the area said Saturday night that they are breathing a collective sigh of relief.