Man held in kidnapping, sexual assault of woman in Lancaster

A man was in jail Tuesday on $1-million bail in the kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman in Lancaster, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

James Smith, 35, allegedly approached the woman from behind on 33rd Street West about 2 p.m. Monday. He forced her into his vehicle and took her to an abandoned house, where he sexually assaulted her, sheriff’s officials said in a statment.

He drove away after the ssault, and the woman called the sheriff’s Lancaster station. Deputies found Smith in his vehicle about about four miles away around 3:30 p.m., they said.

Smith was being held at the Los Angeles County jail. He is also a person of interest in three other sexual assaults that occured in Antelope Valley and date back to 2012, sheriff’s officials said.

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