Man pleads not guilty to kidnapping, raping women in Long Beach
A Signal Hill man accused of kidnapping and raping two women this year pleaded not guilty to a host of felony charges Monday and is being held in lieu of $4.5-million bail.
David Faavale Tautolo, 32, is charged with two counts each of kidnapping to commit another crime, forcible rape and one count each of forcible oral copulation, attempted sodomy by force, sodomy by force and criminal threats, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Prosecutors say that on Jan. 14, Tautolo forced a woman at a bus station into his car and then sexually assaulted her at another location. She managed to get away and call police, but officers couldn’t find Tautolo.
Then in October, Tautolo allegedly kidnapped a second woman, drove her to an alley and raped her. The woman called police once she was free and Tautolo was arrested the next day.
Tautolo faces life in prison if convicted on all charges. He’s due back in court Jan. 20 for a preliminary hearing.
For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
