27-Year-Old Man Admits Attacking, Sexually Assaulting Seniors In RivCo

MORENO VALLEY, CA — A 27-year-old man who attacked two Moreno Valley seniors, trying to sexually assault one of the women, pleaded guilty Friday to assault with intent to commit rape and elder abuse.

Alex Lohany Soza admitted the felony counts, as well as a sentence-enhancing allegation of inflicting great bodily injury on a person over 65 years old, under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney's Office. In exchange for his admissions, prosecutors agreed to drop two related charges.

The plea deal was announced just as a preliminary hearing was set to get underway at the Riverside Hall of Justice. Superior Court Judge Gary Polk did not immediately schedule a sentencing date, and there was no potential sentence indicated during the hearing.

Soza remains held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

According to sheriff's Investigator Jomar Vanderhoof, the first attack occurred shortly after midnight on July 5 at a residence in the 12000 block of Perris Boulevard, where Soza appeared at the occupant's door, knocking until she answered.

"When the victim opened the door, the suspect entered the house, began to strangle her and knocked her to the floor," Vanderhoof said.

The senior, identified in court documents only as "M.M.," was able to wrest free of Soza's grasp, at which point he fled, the sheriff's spokesman said.

He said as patrol deputies were investigating the attack, they received word of another senior — "C.P." — who had been assaulted nearly two miles away in the 24000 block of Eucalyptus Avenue.

"The male approached the second victim and struck her on the head, causing her to fall to the ground," Vanderhoof said. "(Soza) continued to assault the victim until a good Samaritan distracted the suspect, who then fled. Evidence of a sexual assault was found at the scene."

M.M and C.P. were taken to Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley for treatment of moderate injuries, from which they have since recovered.

Vanderhoof said detectives soon developed leads pointing to Soza as the assailant in both instances, and an arrest warrant was obtained within 24 hours and served at his residence on Fir Avenue, where he was taken into custody without incident.

The defendant had no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.