Two Men Charged With Kidnapping, Sexually Assaulting A Woman Walking Home In Huntington

Press release from Orange County District Attorney:

June 12, 2021

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Two men have been charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 27-year-old woman who was walking home from downtown Huntington Beach just before midnight on Sunday. The woman flagged down a passing motorist after her attackers threw her out of the vehicle on Pacific Coast Highway.

Florentino Bacilio, 47, of Long Beach, and Angel Lopezevaristo, 30, of Long Beach, have both been charged with one felony count of kidnapping to commit rape, one felony count of sodomy, and one felony count of forcible sexual penetration with a foreign object.

Bacilio and Lopezevaristo each face a maximum sentence of 57 years to life if convicted on all charges.

On Sunday, June 6, a 27-year-old woman was walking home from downtown Huntington Beach just before midnight. Bacilio and Lopezevaristo are accused of stopping their vehicle and kidnapping the woman, throwing her into their vehicle against her will.

The men are accused of gagging, choking and sexual assaulting the woman, who lost consciousness during the assault. Her attackers threw her out of the vehicle after she regained consciousness and continued fighting back. She flagged down a passing motorist who called police.

“Being grabbed off the street, gagged, and sexually assaulted is the stuff nightmares are made of,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “That nightmare became reality for this victim and thankfully, by the grace of God, she survived. No woman should have to live in fear that a walk home would result in the horror she was forced to endure.”

Deputy District Attorney Alyssa Staudinger of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.

This press release was produced by Orange County District Attorney. The views expressed here are the author’s own.