Man charged with multiple accounts of forcible sexual assault against a child in Culver City home invasion
Authorities are asking for the public's help in identifying any other alleged victims of a man suspected of breaking into a home last month and sexually assaulting a child in Culver City.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón held a news conference Tuesday afternoon to announce the charges against 35-year-old Kern County resident Marcos Maldonado, who was arrested Dec. 5 and is being held on a $1.8 million bail.
Gascón said Maldonado faces multiple accounts of forcible sexual assault against a child, and also faces special allegations under aggravated circumstances.
The assault happened on Dec. 2 between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. at a home in the Blair Hills community, police said. Maldonado was allegedly in the home for hours before leaving on foot around 7 a.m., according to the Culver City Police Department.
He allegedly told the victim his friend was outside with a gun and would kill her family if she told anyone what happened, according to Gascón.
When officers arrived at the home around 7:46 a.m., they were unable to locate the suspect, but did collect video footage from neighboring surveillance cameras.
"Culver City police detectives have worked tirelessly from the day that this crime occurred to identify and locate the involved suspect,"
Culver City Police Chief Jason Sims said.
Sims said Maldonado was identified last week through DNA evidence and arrested on the 5 Freeway after boarding a bus heading for Bakersfield.
Maldonado pleaded not guilty Monday to the five felony counts and remains in jail while awaiting his next court appearance on Feb. 15.
Police said that while there are no other similar crimes reported in the area, the department is still collaborating with other agencies in case there may be additional victims. Anyone with information may call (310) 253-6302 or email tips@culvercity.org.
