Would-Be Rapist Who Attacked Two RivCo Seniors Sentenced

RIVERSIDE, CA — A 27-year-old man who attacked two Moreno Valley seniors, one of whom he tried to sexually assault, was sentenced Friday to eight years in state prison.

Alex Lohany Soza in May pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit rape and elder abuse, 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 dropped two related charges.

During a hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice Friday, Superior Court Judge William Lebov certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense.

According to sheriff's Investigator Jomar Vanderhoof, the first attack occurred shortly after midnight on July 5, 2023, at a residence in the 12000 block of Perris Boulevard, where Soza appeared at the woman'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 recovered.

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 uneventfully.

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

City News Service