Mental Health Exam Ordered For Man Who Attacked RivCo Seniors

MORENO VALLEY, CA — With doubts about the suspect's sanity, a judge Tuesday ordered a mental health examination for a 26-year-old man accused of attacking two Moreno Valley seniors, trying to sexually assault one of the women.

Alex Lohany Soza was arrested in July following a Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigation.

Soza is charged with assault with intent to commit rape, two counts of elder abuse and one count of burglary, as well as sentence-enhancing allegations of targeting victims over 65 years old and inflicting great bodily injury.

During a status hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice on Tuesday, Soza's public defender submitted a motion seeking a psychiatric evaluation by county Department of Behavioral Health specialists. The prosecution did not object, and Superior Court Judge Gary Polk scheduled a hearing on Jan. 12 to appoint the psychologists.

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

According to sheriff's Investigator Jomar Vanderhoof, the first alleged 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, whose identity was not disclosed, was able to wrest free of Soza's grasp, at which point he fled, the sheriff's spokesman said.

He said that, as patrol deputies were investigating the attack, they received word of another senior 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."

The identity of the second victim also wasn't released. She and the first woman were taken to Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley for treatment of moderate injuries, from which they have recovered.

Vanderhoof said detectives soon developed leads pointing to Soza as the alleged 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 has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.