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Lancaster man charged with serial rapes

by The AV Times Staff • June 18, 2014

James Smith sits in the back of a Sheriff's patrol car Monday, June 16. Smith was taken into custody after deputies found him inside a green Buick parked in the 1000 block of West Avenue H-12 in Lancaster. (Photo by LUIS MEZA)
James Smith sits in the back of a Sheriff’s patrol car Monday, June 16. Smith was taken into custody after deputies found him inside a green Buick parked in the 1000 block of West Avenue H-12 in Lancaster. (Photo by LUIS MEZA)

LANCASTER – The 35-year-old Lancaster man accused of abducting and sexually assaulting an Antelope Valley College student was charged Wednesday with sexually assaulting four women beginning in 2009.

James Smith is charged with two counts of forcible rape, one count each of forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by a foreign object, sodomy by use of force and attempted sodomy by use of force, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office announced.

Smith is charged with sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman on Dec. 24, 2009; a 43-year-old woman on Sept. 24, 2011; and a 33-year-old woman on March 23, 2012, all in the Los Angeles area, according to the LADA office.

He was arrested Monday afternoon by Sheriff’s deputies after he allegedly abducted a 19-year-old female near the Antelope Valley College campus on 33rd Street West and Avenue K, took the victim to an abandoned house, and allegedly sexually assaulted her. (Read more about that incident here.) He is charged for that incident, as well.

Smith is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon (June 18) at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles.

Prosecutors will ask that his bail be set at $5.1 million.

If convicted as charged, Smith is facing up to life in state prison.

Deputy District Attorney Lowrie Mendoza with the Sex Crimes Division is prosecuting the case.

[Information via press release from the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.]

–

Previous related story: Teen sexually assaulted near AVC, suspect caught

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

14 comments for "Lancaster man charged with serial rapes"

  1. dell says

    June 24, 2014 at 9:45 am

    Wow .. im shocked i grew up wit this dude .. played as kids .. I know his mama and I knew his father .. his whole family.. im speecless

    • lanee says

      July 6, 2014 at 8:53 pm

      Dell he didnt do it, I will tell u the story ad soon as we connect

      • ZOE says

        August 2, 2014 at 9:31 pm

        [removed] YES TF HE DID..WHILE SHE WAS WALKING HOME HE PULLED UP ON HER ASKED HER QUESTIONS SHE TOLD HIM LEAVE HER ALONE THEN HE TURNED AROUND MADE A UTURN PULLED UP ON THE CURB GRABBED HER TOOK HER TO AN ABANDONED HOUSE AND RAPED HER,…SICK [removed] EVEN HAD A BLANKET IN HIS CAR HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING [removed] THAT BASTARD I HOPE HE ROTA IN JAIL HE IS A SICK INDVIDUAP AND KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING..COPS HAVE DNA PHOTOS AND EVERYTHING IN HIS PHONE SO LANEE WHATEVER HES TELLING U IS A LIE AND U A DUMB IGNORANT [removed] IF YOU GONE BELIEVE THIS SICK BASTARD!!

  2. Natasha King says

    June 21, 2014 at 9:10 pm

    I know James from the Jungles and I would have never thought that he could do all these things that they say he is accused of but you never know what is going on in a person’s mind. He was always polite and I would always give him a hug and you know like most guys he would say fluirty remarks but I never paid him no mind because you know sometimes guys say things like you sure are looking good in them jeans, or can I go with you, you know stuff like that. Those kind of statements did not make me think he was a.rapist.I am really in shock like WOW this is someone that I knew. I just don’t get it what makes a.man do these kind of things this is just wrong. I am so sorry but if he is guilty he needs to rot in jail because you just don’t do this to people.

  3. Antonio says

    June 21, 2014 at 5:54 pm

    I knew James briefly 2000 -2002 when he help me get Employment at Cedar Sinai Medical Center where he also worked at the time… for me to hear about these Crimes about this person is shocking because he was a humble quiet young man back then, and im 3 years older than he is, this is crazy people do change over the course of time i Pray for the Victims and I pray that he have a repentant Heart and realize the damage he caused in society….

  4. Jewel says

    June 19, 2014 at 4:13 pm

    IVE KNOWN JAMES FOR OVER 20yrs IM SHOCKED EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED FOR SOMEONE I THOUGHT I KNEW BE CHARGED WITH SUCH A BAD THING. IM SORRY TO THE VICTIMS.I DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MAKE HIM SNAP. IM A MOTHER IM HURT . FORENSICS DOES NOT LIE. DO THE CRIME GOTTA DO THE TIME NO EXCEPTIONS.

  5. Sara says

    June 19, 2014 at 3:50 am

    One example where a heinous criminal is caught, rather than an innocent citizen victimized, or killed — thanks to the police, the young woman’s brave actions and with the help of the neighbor that she ran to. Hope he gets LIFE, unlike the pillowcase rapist who raped DOZENS (?!) of women and destroyed hundreds of lives.

  6. soapbox journal says

    June 18, 2014 at 6:46 pm

    I wish to say thank you to the young lady who was so swift in reporting this last rape. By not sitting around and crying about it she went into action and called 911, by her doing this they caught this sexual violator fast, he did not get another chance to harm another woman, I hope they castrate the ba***rd and cut off his fingers. I also hope the young lady heals from this her rape.

  7. frank reynolds says

    June 18, 2014 at 5:50 pm

    He was my naibor.smh.he would come to my door all the time.and ask my girl if I was around..I saw him in the pool area crazy !!

  8. Eric says

    June 18, 2014 at 3:28 pm

    Why is it being done down the hill instead of up here? If these were all local crimes, shouldn’t he be tried locally?

    • Rya says

      June 18, 2014 at 4:19 pm

      Learn to read please! “Smith is charged with sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman on Dec. 24, 2009; a 43-year-old woman on Sept. 24, 2011; and a 33-year-old woman on March 23, 2012, all in the Los Angeles area, according to the LADA office.” I am sure AFTER those cases have gone to trial and sentencing, he will then go to trial about the RECENT abduction of the 19 year old up here. Time will just be added onto his sentence’s from the earlier assaults.

      • lanee says

        July 6, 2014 at 8:56 pm

        Sweetie it was not my brother, once again it was another male name James Smith

  9. mad says

    June 18, 2014 at 3:27 pm

    Glad they caught him… One less rapist in the valley…. Yet there going to release a self confessed tallest out here… Smh

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