Long Beach Sexual Assault Suspect Enters Plea in Court

A Long Beach man accused of sexually assaulting a woman he met in a bar pleaded not guilty today to felony charges.

Steven DeSisto, 52, faces two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object and one count each of eavesdropping and possession of a controlled substance.

The sex-related charges allege that the woman was "prevented from resisting by an intoxicating and anesthetic substance, and a controlled substance."

Desisto had drinks with the victim Aug. 7 and then took the intoxicated woman to his home in the area of Ocean Boulevard and Orange Avenue, where she was sexually assaulted, police allege.

During the police investigation, officials found an image of the woman on DeSisto's cell phone and discovered cocaine at his home, according to the District Attorney's Office.

DeSisto was arrested Jan. 15 by Long Beach police, who said investigators believe there may be additional victims who have never called police.

He was ordered to be held in lieu of $2 million bail, with a bail review hearing set next Tuesday.

If convicted as charged, he faces up to 11 years and eight months in state prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.