Suspect Drugged, Raped Victims In Riverside County: Palm Springs PD

PALM SPRINGS, CA — A suspect allegedly linked to multiple sexual assault cases in Riverside County remained in custody Wednesday following his arrest.

The Palm Springs Police Department arrested local resident Juan Segura, 27, on Aug. 21, according to Riverside County inmate records. Segura is scheduled to make an initial court appearance on Sept. 4 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, with detectives saying they found sufficient evidence to charge him with six felony sexual assault and rape-related counts.

Segura is currently being held at the John Benoit Detention Center.

Authorities received a report from a person identified only as Jane Doe on Aug. 19, according to the criminal complaint and a PSPD statement released Tuesday afternoon, which said the person met a suspect identified as "JC" at a Palm Springs bar. After socializing with JC and his friends at a local hotel, the situation allegedly escalated to a non-consensual sexual encounter.

The alleged victim left Palm Springs and traveled to another location in the Inland Empire, reporting the incident to local authorities there.

In the course of the investigation, detectives said they were able to determine JC's identity as Segura, locating him in the 400 block of E. Arenas Road. He was taken into custody without incident and initially held on a bail of $180,000.

Upon further investigation, detectives said they found evidence tying Segura to additional crimes, including a case in March when the reporting party "believed they were drugged and raped by Segura" and a case in August where the alleged victim "blacked out and awoke with injuries consistent with sexual assault," according to a PSPD statement.

The criminal complaint filed against the defendant alleged the use of "force, violence and fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury" in at least two cases, one of which allegedly involved a minor, as well as two occurrences when an unlawful sexual act was performed on an unconscious person, authorities said. In two other counts, Segura was accused of using an anesthetic, intoxicating and/or controlled substance.

Following the detectives' discoveries, Segura is now being held without bail.

Anyone with information regarding the aforementioned cases or additional details about Segura was encouraged to contact Detective Michael Delgado at 760-323-8145 or via email at Michael.Delgado@palmspringsca.gov.