A 24-year-old man was behind bars Wednesday in connection with a series of sexual assaults in the Lakewood area, sheriff’s officials announced Wednesday.
Deanthony Govan of Lakewood is accused in a series of alleged attacks between Sept. 3, 2017, and Dec. 30, 2018, on five women ranging in age from 19 to 39, according to the sheriff’s department.
He was arrested Jan. 24 while walking at an apartment complex near the 4900 block of Castana Avenue in Lakewood by a sheriff’s deputy who recognized Govan as being wanted for numerous crimes, sheriff’s officials said.
Govan is charged with four counts each of forcible oral copulation and false imprisonment by violence, three counts of forcible rape and one count each of attempted forcible rape, assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, second-degree robbery and attempted second-degree robbery, according to court records.
He remains jailed in lieu of $7 million bail.
Govan is due back in a Norwalk courtroom March 4, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence to allow the case against him to proceed to trial.
Sheriff’s officials said investigators believe there may be additional alleged victims. Anyone with information was asked to contact the sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau’s toll-free tip line at (877) 710-5273 or by e-mail at specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org.