LOS ANGELES:- A 29-year-old man has been charged with violently assaulting five different women, four of whom were students, on the UCLA campus over the course of an hour. The defendant is not a student and was not allowed on campus.
“These disturbing attacks strike at the core of campus safety, traumatizing five victims and unsettling campus life,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “We are working closely with the UCLA Police Department to bring the attacker to justice and ensure that he will be held fully accountable for his actions. Our swift actions should send a powerful deterrent message to anyone thinking of coming onto a college campus to harm anyone that they will be arrested, prosecuted and punished. Our university campuses need to be safe and protected spaces for our students, faculty, staff and community – and we will do everything in our power to ensure that this happens.”
Olumuyiwa Akindahunsi has been charged with one felony count of attempted kidnapping with intent to commit forcible rape, three felony counts of assault with intent to commit forcible rape during first-degree robbery, and two felony counts of assault with intent to commit forcible rape with intent to commit forcible rape.
On May 28, at approximately 11:30 a.m., the defendant allegedly assaulted a woman on Bruin Walk. During the assault, the defendant fled with her phone.
A few minutes later, the defendant followed the two women into their secure dormitory building and followed them to their rooms, where he allegedly sexually assaulted one woman and sexually assaulted the other. Both women managed to escape and the defendant managed to escape.
A short time later, the defendant entered another dormitory building where he allegedly approached a woman walking down the hallway and attempted to abduct her to sexually assault her. She broke free and managed to escape.
Shortly after midnight on May 29, the defendant allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in the hallway of her dormitory. A nearby resident intervened and the defendant fled. He was immediately arrested by UCLA police officers.
Deposition continues today in Department 30 of Airport Court.
If convicted as charged, he faces 32 years to life in state prison. He would also be required to register as a sex offender for life.
Deputy District Attorney Negin Mostadim of the Sex Crimes Division is prosecuting the case and the investigation is being conducted by the UCLA Police Department.
