Suspect accused of sexually assaulting woman charged with rape

An ex-con suspected of sexually assaulting a woman who was walking her dogs in Torrance has been charged with rape and other counts, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.

Darrell Dean Waters, 46, is accused of attacking and sexually assaulting the woman around 1 a.m. Sunday in the 4300 block of Emerald Street, north of Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center, according to Torrance Police Department Sgt. Mark Ponegalek.

Events leading up to the assault were unclear, though Torrance police said the woman fought back but was badly injured before the suspect ran away.

He was charged Wednesday with one felony count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and sexual penetration by use of force. The charges include allegations that he personally inflicted great bodily injury and that he has a prior robbery conviction from 1994.

Waters is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in a Torrance courtroom.

Police earlier described him as homeless, although prosecutors called him a Los Angeles resident.

Waters was arrested Monday night by Torrance police and has remained behind bars since then, according to jail records.

Anyone with information about the case was asked to call the Torrance Police Department at 310-328-3456.

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