Man barricaded clerk inside store, repeatedly raped her, D.A. says
An 18-year-old man has been charged with kidnapping and raping a woman inside a convenience store, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Joseph Leo Amaya faces two counts of forcible rape and three counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object. Amaya is set to appear in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Pomona on Monday afternoon, according to a news release.
A 19-year-old woman told authorities that she was working a night shift inside a mini-mart in El Monte when Amaya approached her. He left, but later returned as she was getting ready to close the store. The woman tried to lock the doors when Amaya returned, but he allegedly forced his way into the store and barricaded the entrance, authorities said.
Amaya dragged the woman to the back of the store, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her, according to the release.
Prosecutors asked for Amaya’s bail to be set at $5 million. A conviction on all charges could result in a prison sentence of 125 years to life.
The El Monte Police Department is still investigating the case.
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