Unconscious Woman Kidnapped, Raped By RivCo Man: Jury Convicts

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A 39-year-old man was convicted Wednesday of grabbing a woman off a Riverside street and sexually assaulting her in his pickup truck after she passed out.

Louis Edward Brown of Jurupa Valley was convicted of one felony count each of rape of an unconscious victim and kidnapping, according to court records.

Deputy District Attorney Veronica Mittino and Brown's defense attorney Paulette Norman delivered their closing arguments in the trial Monday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio before jurors began to deliberate.

On Wednesday, jurors reached guilty verdicts on the charges shortly before 2 p.m. and a sentencing date was then set for Jan. 19, 2024.

Brown was arrested on Aug. 26, 2021 following a weeks-long investigation by the Riverside Police Department.

Mittino told jurors during opening statements that on July 31, 2021, the 54-year-old victim -- identified in court documents by the initials "L.L." -- was with her husband at ProAbition Lounge, which they frequented a few days each week.

Mittino said the couple was drinking and, since the staff at the location was familiar with them, had their drinks topped off with a "generous pour."

At some point, the victim and her husband got into an argument about the safety of their daughter who was in the military, Mittino said. In the heat of the argument, the victim excused herself and walked back to the car, which was parked in a different location than usual.

As she started to feel the effects of the alcohol, she couldn't find the car and decided to just walk home in the direction her husband usually drives, thinking he would eventually find her along the way.

But as she approached Rubidoux Drive, she tripped and fell down, while the defendant, who was driving by in a gold Chevy Silverado, saw that and turned his car around, Mittino said. The defendant got out, grabbed her and took her to his passenger door and put her in his car without saying a word as she told him that she didn't need help, the prosecutor said.

While in the car, she couldn't find a door handle and asked him to take her somewhere well-lit so her husband could find her, Mittino said. The defendant remained silent as he drove and the victim began to panic, the prosecutor said.

The woman said the next thing she remembered was being in the back of the truck feeling pressure in her stomach, with the defendant taking off his condom and throwing it away. He allegedly said something about the area not being safe and took her somewhere else.

She attempted to remain calm and pay attention to road signs before the man pulled over at a gas station, Mittino said. As soon as he went inside, the victim jumped from the backseat to the front and ran out while simultaneously looking back to see if the defendant saw her.

She ran, told two men what happened to her and as they made their way to the defendant's car, Brown pulled away and left the gas station, Mittino said. The woman was eventually picked up by her husband, who was still angry from their conversation.

After they got home, her husband noticed unusual behavior like her wanting to be with him every second and having a fear of transient people, Mittino said. He asked her about it at some point and she told him about what happened on the night in question.

They subsequently went to law enforcement and her clothes from that night were taken for DNA testing, which tied the defendant to her, Mittino said. The defendant was found about a month later in Los Angeles County, where he was detained.

While being questioned, the defendant admitted to seeing the victim walk down the street, but according to Mittino, the rest of his story didn't make sense.