SIMI VALLEY : Teen-Ager Arrested in 3 Attempted Rapes

A 16-year-old Simi Valley youth has been arrested in connection with the attempted rapes of three maids in Ventura County hotels last month, authorities said.

The youth, who was being held Monday at Juvenile Hall on three counts of assault with intent to rape, was arrested Thursday about 1 p.m. after it was reported to police that he was loitering in the lobby of the Simi Valley Travelodge at 2550 Erringer Road, said Simi Valley Police Sgt. Fred James. His name was not released because of his age.

On Aug. 29 between noon and 1 p.m., a 21-year-old woman was assaulted by a 5-foot, 4-inch blond youth as she cleaned a room at the Radisson Hotel, 999 Enchanted Way. The woman fought him off, and he fled, James said.

Also in that hour, a teen-ager matching that description attempted to assault two women in the hallways of the Clarion Hotel, 1775 Madera Road, police said.

An 18-year-old woman fought the youth off, and a 20-year-old also was able to block his advances with a cleaning cart, James said.

Witnesses at the hotel watched the teen-ager leave the parking lot on a motorcycle, he said.

On Thursday, police located the suspect at a restaurant next to the Travelodge after witnesses reported seeing him first loitering in the lobby and then leaving on a motorcycle, James said.