By james art RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A Feb. 4 trial date was confirmed Thursday for a 26-year-old man accused of setting up women for online dates and then robbing and sexually assaulting them on dates in Riverside and San Bernardino counties .
DeJuan Ramon Jones of Victorville was arrested in March 2022 following a joint investigation by the Riverside Police Department and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Jones is charged with three counts of aggravated rape, as well as two counts each of assault with a deadly weapon and forced oral intercourse, and one count each of kidnapping with intent to commit rape, assault with intent to commit rape and robbery, with an enhancement of the conviction charges of targeting more than one victim in sex crimes, inflicting great bodily harm and using a deadly weapon in the commission of a crime.
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During a pretrial conference in the Riverside courtroom Thursday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Joshlyn Pulliam consulted with the prosecution and defense regarding the schedule, and both sides agreed to be prepared to continue the trial through the first week of February at the Hall of Justice in Riverside.
Jones is being held without bond at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.
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According to the Riverside Police Department, the accused was initially directly connected to an alleged assault that occurred on March 7, 2022 in Riverside, which resulted in his arrest.
“Investigators learned that Jones was active on dating apps and social media where he met women online,” police spokesman Ryan Railsback said. “The attacks took place after these meetings took place. Jones was armed during the encounters and is believed to have targeted women who are less likely to report crimes to law enforcement, such as youths and sex workers.”
Court documents show four victims allege the accused assaulted them. The women were identified only by their initials – “AS”, “BW”, “CR” and “RC”
The alleged attacks took place between October 2021 and March 2022, according to the prosecutor’s complaint. No specific locations were provided.
Railsback did not disclose how detectives ultimately identified Jones.
He has prior convictions in San Bernardino County that are not listed in court documents.
— City News Office
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