Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # M-10123: July 5, 2013
SERIAL RAPIST WHO RAPED FIVES GIRLS FROM 1968 TO 1984 DECLARED SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR
SANTA ANA – A serial rapist will be committed to a state mental hospital as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) after a unanimous jury found that the offender is a continued threat to children and the community. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) filed a petition to have Lawtis Rhoden, 63, committed as an SVP based on his prior convictions of sexual assaults against several underage girls.
Under the law, potential SVPs are subject to mental health reviews by the Department of Mental Health (DMH) prior to completion of their criminal sentence. If the People are able to prove that the defendant meets SVP criteria, a petition is filed to have the defendant civilly committed. There are three criteria that must be met in order to designate a person as SVP. First, the defendant must have committed at least one sexually violent offense. Second, he/she must be diagnosed with a mental disorder. Finally, it must be found that he/she is likely to re-offend unless he/she is held in custody and treated.
If a unanimous jury finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant meets the SVP criteria, the defendant is committed to a secure mental care facility for treatment until he is safe for release.
1968 Criminal Case (Case # F68-251)
On March 2, 1968, Rhoden, then, 18 years old, met 13-year-old Jane Doe #1 at Cocoa Beach in Florida. On three separate occasions, he lured the victim back to his apartment and raped her. On Jan. 24, 1969, Rhoden pleaded guilty to one felony count of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor and was sentenced to 14 months in a mental state hospital in Florida and 12 years in state prison.
1984 Criminal Cases
On April 24, 1984, Rhoden, then, 34 years old, grabbed 14-year-old Jane Doe #2 as she was walking to Bellflower High School in Los Angeles County and forced her inside his car. Rhoden drove Jane Doe #2 to an apartment building and took her behind the building where he forcibly raped her. The case was reported to police (Case #A465250).
On June 2, 1984, Rhoden drove up to 17-year-old Jane Doe #3 as she was walking home after she had finished babysitting in Anaheim. Rhoden lured the victim into his car by posing as a photographer and offering her a modeling opportunity. Rhoden drove Jane Doe #3 to an apartment building and took her behind the building where he forcibly raped her. The case was reported to police (Case #C061804).
On June 18, 1984, Rhoden drove up to 14-year-old Jane Doe #4, who was walking home from summer school in Los Angeles County, and lured her into his car by posing as a photographer and offered her a modeling opportunity. Rhoden drove the victim to an industrial park and forcibly raped her inside his vehicle. The case was reported to police (Case #A465250).
On June 1984, Rhoden’s girlfriend was living in Tennessee with 13-year-old Jane Doe #5. Rhoden gained the victim’s trust by talking to her over the phone for several months and convinced her to model for him. On Dec. 4, 1984, Rhoden flew to Tennessee and met the victim inside a motel and had her try on different clothes. Rhoden then raped the victim and then masturbated in front of her. The case was reported to police (Case # 85-W0585).
On Dec. 19, 1984, the Metropolitan Police Department in Nashville arrested Rhoden in a hotel after setting up a sting operation. On Oct. 24, 1985, Rhoden was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of forcible rape for Jane Doe #5 and was sentenced to 20 years in state prison. On March 21, 1988, Rhoden was found guilty by a jury of one felony count each of forcible rape and forcible sexual penetration for Jane Doe #3 and was sentenced to 17 years in state prison. On May 20, 1988, Rhoden pleaded guilty to two felony counts of forcible rape for the two 14-year-old victims in Los Angeles County and was sentenced to six years in state prison.
Rhoden was scheduled to be released from prison in 2003. On Jan. 21, 2004, the OCDA filed an SVP petition to have Rhoden civilly committed. A unanimous jury found Wednesday, July 3, 2013, that Rhoden continues to meet the SVP criteria and poses a serious risk to children and the community.
If Rhoden were to be released, his lifetime sex offender registration would bar him from entering County recreational areas and City parks which have passed the Sex Offender Ordinance. Visit www.orangecountyda.com to read the prior press releases on the County’s Sex Offender Ordinance as well as the 14 other cities that have enacted the Child Safety Zone Ordinance.
Deputy District Attorney Michael Carroll of the Sexual Assault Unit handled this case for the OCDA.
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Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Contacts:
Susan Kang Schroeder
Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami
Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486