Court Upholds Los Angeles Man's Conviction For Rape, Assault

LOS ANGELES, CA — A man who was previously convicted of rape will remain in prison after a state appeals court upheld his conviction Tuesday. A three-justice panel from California's 2nd District Court of Appeal denied the defense's claim that there was insufficient evidence to support the original ruling.

Edem had been convicted on one count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, kidnapping to commit rape or forcible oral copulation, sexual battery and attempted forcible rape.

Prosecutors said that on April 16, 2017, Edem approached a woman at a bus stop and offered her a ride. Rather than taking her to her destination, prosecutors said Edem drove to a different location and attempted to rape the woman, who managed to escape.

Edem also sexually assaulted a woman as she was leaving a train in North Hollywood, according to the ruling. Years earlier, he was convicted of raping a San Diego woman in 2006.

Tuesday in court, the panel rejected the defense's claim that the trial court abused its discretion by allowing evidence of the 2006 rape. In the ruling, the court said the attack was "highly similar to his later assaults."

Justices also found several similarities between all three incidents, saying Edem took them to isolated location, offered marijuana and/or alcohol and "engaged in friendly conversation before demanding sex or oral copulation."

Edem remains in prison, where he is serving an 81-year-to-life sentence.

City News Service contributed to this report.