Seal Beach

Seal Beach Chef Pleads Not Guilty to Drugging, Raping Woman

A former chef at a Seal Beach restaurant pleaded not guilty Friday to serving a spiked drink to one of his patrons and raping her while she was unconscious.

Darryl Lee Matanane, 57, was charged Aug. 21 with rape by use of drugs, rape of an unconscious person, sodomizing an unconscious person, sodomy by anesthesia or controlled substance, sexual penetration of an unconscious victim, and sexual penetration by use of an intoxicating substance used on victim, all felonies.

Matanane was arrested in February of last year, but prosecutors asked police to do more investigation before charges could be filed.

The woman, whose name was not released, was serving in the military at the time, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

She told police she went to a Seal Beach restaurant Feb. 13, 2018, where Matanane was working at the time, and that he served her an alcoholic drink, according to Seal Beach police Sgt. Michael Henderson.

She said she awoke in an unfamiliar apartment in Seal Beach and had been sexually assaulted, Henderson said.

Matanane pleaded not guilty in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana and was ordered to return to court Oct. 25 for a pretrial hearing in the West Justice Center in Westminster.

Copyright C
Contact Us