LA's woke DA is 'reviewing' misdemeanor charges against 'demon possessed' man ... trends now
Local prosecutors are pleading with controversial Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon to upgrade the charges against a 'demon possessed' man who was recorded unzipping his pants and grabbing a woman in broad daylight.
The horrific incident occurred on October 20 outside of a Village Market restaurant in downtown Long Beach. Surveillance video shows the suspect sitting on the ground as victim Rebekah Pedersen walks by.
After she passes him, he hurries up behind her and grabs her, throwing her to the ground. A man sitting nearby springs into action and pepper sprays the would-be attacker, who then runs away.
A witness described the attacker as 'salivating' and appearing to be 'demon possessed' prior to the attempted assault.
Following the attack, suspect Miguel Avila, 30, was arrested nearby. It was subsequently announced that he would be charged with sexual battery, a crime that carries a sentence of just six months in prison.
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon has come under intense scrutiny of his liberal attitude to violent crime
The horrifying video begins with Rebekah Pedersen walking past the homeless suspect in broad daylight
The terrifying video shows the suspect stalking his victim prior to the attempted assault
After she passes him, the suspect began to follow her, unzipped his pants, grabbed her and threw her to the ground
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That's when a man sitting nearby sprang into action and pepper sprayed the attacker, chasing him away
The victim said that she was told by authorities that Avila was not being charged with attempted rape because he never stated his intention during the attack.
This week, the Long Beach City Prosecutor's office filed the misdemeanor charges against the suspect but have asked Gascon's office to consider felony charges.
According to California law, only the county district attorney can file felony charges. In response, Gascon's office said it will review the case.
'I think this is an egregious case. I think the conduct warrants felony-level filing. From the moment we got it we believed it was felony level conduct,' Long Beach Prosecutor Doug Haubert told Fox Los Angeles.
'I think this is an egregious case. I think the conduct warrants felony-level filing. From the moment we got it we believed it was felony level conduct,' he went on.
'We received a correspondence from the Long Beach City Prosecutor, sharing his opinion on the matter,' Gascon's office said in a statement.
The case was carefully reviewed previously; however, based on additional information, the head deputy of our Sex Crimes Division will review the evidence and interview a witness that was located after our initial decision was made to determine whether any felony charges are provable.'
In the wake of the announcement of the minor charges facing her attacker, the victim said it's only a matter of time before Avila strikes again.
'It's mind blowing because nobody in their right mind thinks this is anything but attempted rape. Nobody in their right mind. Not one person,' Pedersen told ABC Los Angeles.
'He's going to rape somebody. He will. He just hasn't been successful yet,' she added.
