"Los Angeles police said they got a tip in January from German authorities regarding a potential suspect in drug-related sexual assaults in the city. Police worked with the FBI and the German Federal Criminal Police to get evidence for search and arrest warrants for the man. Officials arrested Weng, a Chinese national studying at USC, on Aug. 28 and searched his home, where police said they found evidence of participation in drug-involved sexual assaults and rapes beginning in 2021 and continuing into 2025."
"If convicted of all charges, he faces 25 years to a maximum life plus 56 years in California state prison. He would also be required to register as a sex offender for life. No one should ever have to endure the trauma of being drugged, sexually assaulted and stripped of their ability to consent, said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman in a statement."
Los Angeles police are searching for potential additional survivors after prosecutors charged 30-year-old Sizhe Weng with eight felony counts, including rape and sodomy. Weng pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail. Prosecutors allege that between 2021 and 2024 Weng raped three women after putting incapacitating drugs in their food or drinks. Authorities received a tip from German authorities in January and worked with the FBI and German Federal Criminal Police to obtain evidence and warrants. Officials arrested Weng on Aug. 28, searched his home and found evidence linking him to drug-involved sexual assaults into 2025. USC barred him from campus and has received no reports from potential survivors. Weng's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14. If convicted he faces decades-to-life in prison and lifetime sex-offender registration.
#drug-facilitated-sexual-assault #usc-student #international-law-enforcement-cooperation #criminal-prosecution
Read at www.dailynews.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]