Authorities have made an arrest in the Victorville area connected to a sexual assault investigation. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office reports that on November 5, 2024, James Aaron Crawford, a 40-year-old resident of Apple Valley, was taken into custody under suspicion of committing rape by force or fear. According to a press release, the incident in question took place the previous evening in the neighborhood of Old Town Victorville.
The arrest followed allegations that Crawford offered a ride to a homeless victim and then proceeded to a secluded area where the rape reportedly occurred. Crawford was said to be driving a light blue Chrysler Town & Country minivan at the time of the alleged crime, as detailed by the SBSD Victorville Police Department. In light of the circumstances surrounding this case, authorities are concerned there may be additional victims that have yet to come forward.
To assist with the ongoing investigation, the Sheriff's Office has published a photo of the suspect and is actively reaching out for potential additional victims to contact law enforcement. They urge anyone with pertinent information to get in touch with Detective M. Roth at the Victorville Station by calling (760) 241-2991 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001. For those preferring to remain anonymous, calls can be directed to the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463), or online at the We-Tip website.
