A jury deadlocked Monday in the case of a 36-year-old man accused of trying to rape a 17-year-old girl walking home from school in Palmdale, forcing a mistrial.
The panel deadlocked 9-3 in favor of convicting Marlon Crowell of attempted rape and assault with intent to commit rape. Prosecutors had previously dropped an attempted sexual battery count.
The District Attorney’s Office plans to retry Crowell on both counts, according to a spokeswoman. A Dec. 9 pretrial hearing was set.
Crowell allegedly blocked the girl’s path as she walked along the 38000 block of Sierra Highway midday on Sept. 6, 2012, and scared her by asking inappropriate questions. He then allegedly grabbed her by her blouse and tore it open after she made several attempts to get away.
The girl hit Crowell with her hands, threw her backpack to the ground and ran to a nearby parking lot, where she met a good Samaritan who drove her home, according to the prosecution.
— City News Service