Woman sexually assaulted

Deepa Bharath

A woman was sexually assaulted by a masked assailant early Sunday

morning as she lay face-down on a couch in her apartment, police

said.

The woman, whom police did not identify because she was a victim

of a violent sexual crime, walked out of her home in the 600 block of

Baker Street briefly and then walked back into her apartment at about

5 a.m., Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Bob Ciszek said.

“She came back and lay face-down on the couch,” he said. “Minutes

later, she was assaulted from behind by the man, who sodomized her.”

The assailant, who was wearing a ski mask, ordered the woman into

another room in the house and asked her to remain there while he made

his escape, Ciszek said. The woman did not suffer any serious

physical injury and was not hospitalized, he said.

Investigators have no leads yet, but they believe that the man

entered the apartment through an open window, Ciszek said. He was not

seen carrying any weapons, he said.

The incident is an isolated one, and there have been no other

reports of similar attacks, Ciszek said.

“This is a strange one,” he said. “I’ve never heard anything

similar in all the years I’ve been here.”

Such attacks by strangers are uncommon in Orange County, said

Heather Banuelos, program director for Sexual Assault Victims

Services, which also serves as Orange County’s rape crisis center.

“What we see mostly in this county is acquaintance rapes,” she

said. “Almost 85% of our cases are where victims know their

attackers.”

But this incident serves as a wake-up call, Banuelos said.

“It’s a sign for women and children to be extra careful,

especially because this attacker is still at large,” she said.

Women, especially those who live alone, must be careful and

constantly aware of their surroundings, Banuelos said.

“If something appears to be suspicious, they should not be afraid

to call the police right away,” she said. “If you know someone is

following you, drive to a crowded place or to a nearby police

station. Always be aware of who’s around when you get out of the

car.”

Police officials describe the attacker as a man between 30 and 40

years old, about 5 feet tall, weighing 160 pounds and wearing a ski

mask.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Costa Mesa Police

Department at (714) 754-5281.

* DEEPA BHARATH is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at

deepa.bharath@latimes.com.