HOLLYWOOD—A 33-year-old man suspected of attempted murder and sexual assault of an 80-year-old woman in her Hollywood apartment last month, was charged on Tuesday, July 5, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office has announced.
According to the press release from the LADA Office, Marcus Datwione Peete was charged in case BA448034 with one count each of attempted murder, assault, sexual penetration by a foreign object and first-degree burglary, person present. Peete was arraigned in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
The attack on the victim occurred on June 18. Surveillance footage released by the Los Angeles Police Department shows the suspect taking an elevator to one of the building’s upper floors in the 1700 block of North Ivar Avenue.
The suspect knocked on the door of the apartment where the elderly woman lived alone. The victim answered her front door, where Peete is accused of forcing himself into the apartment and allegedly pushed the woman into her bedroom and began beating her.
After Peete entered the victim’s home, he is alleged to have sexually assaulted the victim as she was fighting back. He punches the victim several times before fleeing the scene on foot.
The woman was taken to the hospital where she was treated for her injuries. Peete was arrested a day later on June 19 near Crenshaw and Olympic Boulevards.
If convicted the suspect could face up to life in prison. The case is still under investigation by the LAPD.
