Talked Down From Water Tower : El Toro Marine Held in Irvine Girl’s Rape

A Marine corporal was arrested on charges of rape and assault Tuesday about four hours after a Navy chaplain talked him into climbing down from a water tower and surrendering to El Toro Marine Corps Air Station officials.

Cpl. Phillip Jay Wheeler, 28, was later arrested by Irvine police on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old Woodbridge girl in her bedroom on Sunday evening.

The rapist, who police believe may have come into the house through an unlocked door, entered the bedroom of the girl’s home brandishing a knife. The girl reportedly cried for help, but her parents, who were at home, evidently could not hear her, police said.

Irvine Police Sgt. Al Murray said Wheeler was booked into Orange County Jail and was being held on $150,000 bail.

A Marine Corps spokeswoman said Wheeler climbed a water tower on the base at 11:30 a.m. Two hours later, at the urging of a Navy chaplain, he climbed down without injury.

“The Navy chaplain talked to him the whole time,” said Marine Sgt. Cindy Kimball. “He (Wheeler) did not jump. He came down on his own.”

Kimball declined to comment on how the police connected Wheeler with the assault or why he climbed the water tower.

Wheeler was turned over to Irvine police after negotiations with the base’s commanding officer, according to Irvine Police Sgt. Dick Bowman.

Before Wheeler’s arrest, Bowman had described the suspect as being six feet tall and 180 pounds, with brown hair, blue eyes and a light mustache. Police declined to give a description of Wheeler.