MAN CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ASSAULTING WOMAN AT BUS STOP IN SANTA ANA

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was charged today with sexually assaulting a woman at a bus stop in Santa Ana.

Erick Alvarez Hernandez, 27, Santa Ana, was charged with one felony count each of kidnapping to commit a sex offense, forcible oral copulation, attempted forcible rape, and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, with a sentencing enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury to a sexual assault victim and sentencing enhancement allegations for kidnapping and inflicting great bodily injury. He faces a maximum sentence of 41 years to life in state prison. Hernandez is scheduled for a continued arraignment on Feb. 8, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.

On Jan. 5, 2019, at approximately 8:30 p.m., 52-year-old Jane Doe was sitting on a bench at a bus stop on the 1000 block of MacArthur Boulevard in Santa Ana. Hernandez is accused of approaching the victim from behind, wrapping his arm around her neck, and pulling her to a secluded area. The defendant is further accused of punching and sexually assaulting Jane Doe, then fleeing the scene when a bus approached the stop.

The incident was partially captured on surveillance video from an OCTA bus and the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) investigated this case.

SAPD identified the defendant following several tips from the public. On Jan. 10, 2019, SAPD arrested the defendant at his workplace in Irvine.

Deputy District Attorney Kristin Bracic of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.