An Arcadia man who allegedly kidnapped a woman and raped her over the course of 11 hours at his home was charged Friday with multiple felonies.
Philippe Mengi Brian Lutete, 29, was free on bail at the time of the alleged Wednesday morning abduction and sexual assault. He was awaiting trial for a similar alleged attack that occurred in late November, prosecutors said.
Lutete was previously charged with false imprisonment by violence and sexual battery by restraint in connection with the November allegations. He posted bail in January following his arrest on those charges.
For the alleged Wednesday attack, he was charged today with two counts of forcible rape and single counts of kidnapping to commit rape, forcible oral copulation and assault with intent to commit rape. His bail was set at $3.25 million, with arraignment set for May 19.
According to sheriff’s officials and prosecutors, Lutete abducted a 25- year-old woman around 3 a.m. Wednesday near Longden Avenue and Peck Roads and took her to his home near Longden and 10th Street, where she was repeatedly sexually assaulted.
The victim managed to briefly escape the residence and alert a neighbor before being dragged back inside, according to the Sheriff’s Department. The neighbor called authorities, who heard a woman screaming when they responded to the home around 2 p.m.
When they went inside the home, Lutete escaped through a second-story window, prompting a manhunt in the area, sheriff’s officials said. Lutete was arrested around 9:30 p.m.
According to prosecutors, Lutete tried to rape another woman he met in La Puente and brought back to his home on Nov. 26, 2014. In that case, the victim escaped through a second-story window and called 911, prosecutors said.
Lutete faces life in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.
— City News Service