Sylmar

Sexual Assault Suspect May Have Used Dating Apps to Lure Victims, Police Say

Police are looking for additional victims.

A convicted sex offender who allegedly lured victims to his Sylmar-area home by convincing them he was in the entertainment industry or that he was a photographer pleaded not guilty Wednesday to forcible rape and other charges.

Aaron Clark, 40, was arrested April 14 in connection with sexual assaults of two victims on April 13 and 14, according to Los Angeles police, who urged people to contact detectives if they were victimized.

"It is believed that Clark assaulted other victims,'' an LAPD statement says. "Clark may have used online dating applications or services such as Backpage to lure victims to his home in the Sylmar area, posing as a photographer or convincing victims he was in the entertainment industry." 

Clark served time in prison and was ordered to register as a sex offender, according to Los Angeles police, who say he was released on parole in March 2017.

According to the criminal complaint, he has a 2003 conviction for rape and a 2014 conviction for child molesting with a prior conviction.

In the current case, he is charged with two counts of forcible oral copulation and one count each of forcible rape and kidnapping to commit another crime.

Anyone with information was urged to call LAPD Mission Area Sexual Assault detectives at 818-838-9971 or 818-838-9800; 877-LAPD-24-7; or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.

Copyright City News Service
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