Sentence for Sexually Assaulting Woman

Two men have received prison sentences for a brutal crime involving the sexual assault of a 27-year-old woman. The incident, which left the victim unconscious, happened in Huntington Beach.

In June 2021, while walking home after celebrating a friend’s birthday, the woman was talking on the phone when she was approached by Angel Lopesevaristo, 34, and Florentino Contreras Basilio, 52. They forcibly took her, knocking her phone from her hand and pushing her into an SUV.

The attackers reportedly gagged and strangled her during the assault. According to prosecutors, she was also physically assaulted while desperately trying to fight back and scream for help.

After regaining consciousness, the woman was discovered and assisted when she was thrown onto the Pacific Coast Highway. At the time of the incident, both men were employed at a nearby burger restaurant and had been drinking after their shift.

The Assistant District Attorney described the men as having acted in coordination, emphasizing their planned approach to the attack. Surveillance footage presented in court showcased the chilling moment they dragged her into the vehicle, highlighting her fear.

Lopesevaristo pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including kidnapping with the intent to commit rape, resulting in a 30-year prison sentence. Basilio, on the other hand, was found guilty of kidnapping with intent to sexually assault and received a 15-year sentence.

Reflecting on the horrific nature of the crime, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer remarked, “Being grabbed, gagged, and sexually assaulted on the street is the stuff of nightmares. For this victim, that nightmare became a reality. Thankfully, she survived.”