College of the Desert Student Accused of Sexually Assaulting Two Women has Bail Hearing Tuesday

A College of the Desert student suspected of sexually assaulting two women at the Palm Desert campus appeared in court Friday and was ordered to return Tuesday for a bail review hearing.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Graham A. Cribbs also scheduled an Oct. 10 mental health court hearing for Palm Desert resident Jesse Timothy Lara, 28, who last week pleaded not guilty to a pair of misdemeanor sexual battery counts.

Riverside County sheriff's Deputy Julio Oseguera said authorities went to COD on Sept. 17 to speak with the two alleged sexual battery victims.

Both were allegedly approached by Lara - one on Sept. 16 and the other on Sept. 12 - on the campus, but it was unclear if they were students.

A COD statement said the assaults involved "unwanted touching" and that the college was "moving forward to have the student expelled."

Students and employees were notified and told to call campus security if they were victims of a sexual assault, unwanted touching or other crimes on campus, according to COD's statement.

Lara was being held in lieu of $25,000 bail at the county jail in Blythe, according to jail records.

Reported by City News Service