Felon Charged With Drugging, Raping Woman In Laguna Beach

LAGUNA BEACH, CA -- A carjacking convict pleaded not guilty on Monday to drugging a woman with methamphetamine and heroin and sexually assaulting her over several days in Laguna Beach.

Maxwell Carlton Post was charged Friday with two counts each of rape, forced sodomy, forced oral copulation and sexual penetration with a foreign object. He also faces sentencing enhancements for aggravated mayhem or torture and administering a controlled substance by force.

Laguna Beach police last Monday evening were called to a Ralph's store regarding a 21-year-old woman who appeared drugged and fearful of her male companion, Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Jim Cota said.

The woman told police she met Post at a party in a Costa Mesa hotel.

The defendant allegedly took her to a vacant residence in Laguna Beach and injected her with meth and heroin, Cota said.

Post is accused of taking the alleged victim's belongings, including a phone and clothes, to prevent her from fleeing, Cota said.

He allegedly sexually assaulted her over the course of several days, Cota said.

Post, who has a conviction for carjacking out of San Diego in December 2015, entered his plea on Monday in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana. He was ordered held on $1 million bail and will return to court Dec. 24 for a pretrial hearing in the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.

City News Service contributed to this report.