A weekend evening at a Huntington Beach park turned into a major felony case after police say a woman was sexually assaulted at Manning Park, and a 28-year-old man is now facing a stack of serious charges.
Officers arrested the suspect after the reported attack Saturday night, and investigators say he is facing multiple felony counts as they continue to dig into what happened. Police publicly announced the arrest this week.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Huntington Beach police identified the suspect as 28-year-old William Edward Thomas. Officers were called to the area about 5:40 p.m. Sunday regarding an assault that investigators say took place the night before at Manning Park, 307 Delaware St. The outlet reports that Thomas was charged Tuesday in connection with the incident.
Allegations and charges
MyNewsLA reports that Thomas was booked on counts including forcible oral copulation, assault with the intent to commit a sex offense, assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, false imprisonment and sexual battery, all felonies. The criminal complaint alleges the woman was attacked with a box cutter.
The same outlet notes that Thomas previously pleaded guilty in December 2020 to resisting arrest and battery with serious bodily injury, along with misdemeanor counts that included criminal threats and brandishing a weapon.
Police response and investigation
The Huntington Beach Police Department said detectives are actively investigating the case and have referred it to prosecutors, the Los Angeles Times reported. Authorities have not released additional details about the woman’s condition or Thomas’ bail status while the inquiry continues.
What happens next
According to MyNewsLA, Thomas was formally charged Tuesday, but arraignment and bail information were not immediately available. The Orange County district attorney’s office will review the case file and decide which charges to pursue as detectives continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Legal process
The filing of charges in Orange County Superior Court is only the start of what could be a lengthy court process. Thomas, like any defendant, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If the case proceeds to trial, any conviction and penalties would be decided by a judge or jury based on the evidence presented in court.
