Ocean Beach kidnapping rapist scheduled for sentencing

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A man who kidnapped and sexually assaulted two women
in Ocean Beach over a seven-month period is scheduled to be sentenced this week.

Richard Christopher Butts, 26, pleaded guilty last month to one count of
oral copulation with a kidnapping allegation and one count of forcible rape
with a multiple victim allegation and agreed to be sentenced to 30 years to
life in prison.

Butts was charged a year ago with sexually assaulting a 26-year-old
woman as she walked home from a friend's house.

A month later, Butts was charged with kidnapping and forcibly raping a
second woman on Aug. 25, 2012. The 2:30 a.m. attack happened close to where the
March 24, 2013, sexual assault occurred.

The victim in the earlier attack testified last summer that she was
jumped from behind on Muir Avenue as she walked toward her boyfriend's house,
punched twice and dragged down a driveway and into a backyard, where her
assailant tried to rape her.

The 26-year-old woman said the attacker pulled her hooded sweatshirt
over her head, so she didn't get a good look at him. She said the attack
continued until the assailant heard something, jumped up and ran off.

James Delmar, who lived next door, testified that he was awakened by
loud voices and a commotion. The witness said he saw a male figure dragging a
woman down the driveway, then heard her screaming loudly.

Delmar said the woman was screaming, “Please stop! Don't do this! Let
me go,” and the assailant responded with “Shut the (expletive) up, bitch.”

Delmar said the man was breathing heavily and could have been choking
the victim during the assault.

Deputy District Attorney Wendy Patrick said the second attack happened
about 10:15 p.m. as the victim tried to make her way home after dinner at a
friend's house.

A 911 caller reported the woman screaming for help near Bacon and
Voltaire streets. When witnesses ran to her aid, the assailant bolted toward
Robb Field, San Diego police Detective Gary Hassen said. Patrol officers found
Butts near the park a short time later and arrested him.