Palmdale Man Linked by DNA to Two Alleged Sexual Assaults; Judge Orders...

Palmdale Man Linked by DNA to Two Alleged Sexual Assaults; Judge Orders Preliminary Hearing

A Palmdale man accused of sexually assaulting two women is set to return to court next month for a preliminary hearing after new evidence was presented linking him to both cases.

On Tuesday, Judge Gregg Marcus ordered 41-year-old Luis Chinchilla Mejia back to court, where a judge will determine whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.

Mejia is charged with the forcible rape of two women he did not know, according to a criminal complaint filed June 26. During a recent pretrial hearing at the San Fernando Courthouse, prosecutors with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office submitted evidence into the record showing both alleged victims underwent Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) examinations following the incidents.

Court records indicate a buccal swab was collected from Mejia in September. DNA results reportedly matched evidence collected from both victims.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Unit, detectives believe Mejia targeted two women between March 3 and May 17, 2024. One incident allegedly occurred near Sierra Highway and Avenue R in Palmdale, while the second was reported near Pico Canyon Road in Stevenson Ranch.

In August, SVU detectives released a public notice asking if anyone recognized the suspect, who was accused of luring at least two women before assaulting them.

Both charges carry a potential sentence of 25 years to life due to the severity of the allegations and the alleged use of a weapon. Mejia pleaded not guilty to both counts during his August 14 arraignment through an interpreter. He remains in custody at Men’s Central Jail in lieu of $1.2 million bail.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Bureau at 877-710-5273 or email specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3 Tips mobile app, or online at lacrimestoppers.org.