A local transient man sits in County Jail accused of trying to forcibly rape a teenager in Downtown San Luis Obispo.
According to a news release by Lt. John Bledsoe, on Monday, Dec. 29, “a 17-year-old girl visiting San Luis Obispo with her family was shopping in the Downtown area when she became separated and lost her direction.” In the 1200 block of Morro, Lt. Bledsoe said, she reportedly approached a man sitting on a bench, and asked him for directions.
Police claim the man, a local transient, escorted the girl to a public restroom at a nearby City parking garage and “forced her inside and locked the door behind them.”
Police said the suspect allegedly sexually assaulted the girl inside the locked bathroom for “several minutes” before she escaped.
“The victim,” Lt. Bledsoe said, “was able to provide San Luis Obispo Police with a very detailed description of the suspect, his clothing, and the property he had with him at the time of the assault.”
Early the next morning, Lt. Bledsoe said they found a man fitting the description in the same general area as the alleged assault occurred. “He was later positively identified by the victim as the suspect who committed the sexual assault,” said Lt. Bledsoe.
Police arrested Manuel Reyes Luevano, 48 listed as a transient from SLO and charged him with suspicion of attempted, rape, kidnapping, false imprisonment and sexual battery. Police will also seek additional charges of forced oral copulation on a minor and annoying or molesting a child under 18. His bail was initially set at $100,000 but given the seriousness of the crimes he’s charged with, it will likely be withdrawn or greatly increased.
Police are asking for the public’s help to see if Luevano may have committed other offenses and unreported crimes in SLO.
“The San Luis Obispo Police Department is asking anyone with additional information regarding Manuel Luevano, or anyone who may have seen him in the area of the 1200 block of Morro on Dec. 29, 2014 to contact SLOPD Det. Trevor Shalhoob.
