A 5-year-old San Clemente boy and a U.S. Marine are both being called heroes for helping to save the youngster's mother from a sexual assault .
The victim said she was on her bed with her son and 1-year-old daughter Sunday morning when a man entered the family's home on Cazador Lane and jumped on top of her.
"He was on top of me with his hands around my neck and the more I struggled, the harder he squeezed," she said. "His strength was incredible. I couldn't move. I was defenseless."
The 28-year-old woman said the attacker appeared to be out of his mind.
"He was clearly on drugs, he was paranoid," she said. "He was confessing his love to me, even though I've never met the person before in my life. I've never seen him."
The victim's young son quickly sprang into action to help his mother.
"He was so brave," the woman said. "He jumped on top of the guy and started hitting him on the back of the head, screaming as loud as he could to get off his mommy. He's definitely my hero."
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A neighbor who's a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton heard the woman's cries for help and rushed to her rescue. The unidentified Marine was able to get the attacker off of her.
Authorities said the Marine and the suspect were still struggling when Orange County sheriff's deputies arrived at the home.
The suspect, Jonathan Ashton Aikin, was arrested and booked on suspicion of sexual battery, being under the influence of a controlled substance, burglary, and child endangering.
Aikin, 18, is being held on $100,000 bail. He's expected to appear in court Tuesday morning.
