Youth Held in Sexual Attack on Woman in La Habra Apartment

A 17-year-old boy was arrested late Friday night after police said he sexually assaulted a 28-year-old woman while holding a screwdriver to her neck as the woman’s daughter slept in another room.

Police Sgt. Phil Stufflebean said the youth has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and attempted rape. His name is being withheld because he is a juvenile.

Witnesses said they saw a man climbing through the bathroom window of an apartment about 11:30 p.m. in the 700 block of North Maple Street and told police.

Police said they confronted the suspect at the front door of the apartment and recovered the screwdriver. Stufflebean said scratches were found on the victim’s neck.

“Apparently, it (the screwdriver) was held so tight to her neck that superficial penetrations were made,” Stufflebean said. “It was a pretty vicious attack, with the potential for more real violence.”

He said the victim’s 9-year-old daughter apparently slept through the attack.