By Lookout Staff

August 21, 2023 -- Police are looking for additional victims of a suspect arrested in Santa Monica this month for assault to commit rape.

The suspect, Fernando Vinicio Chavez, 27, is currently in custody in Orange County for the same charge and for forcible penetration with a foreign object. SMPD officers arrested Chavez on August 4 for violently assaulting a woman on Santa Monica beach, police said. "Chavez met the victim while working in Downtown Los Angeles and the victim agreed to meet after Chavez ended his shift," said Lt. Erika Aklufi.

"They went to the beach in Santa Monica where Chavez violently assaulted her after the victim refused to have sex with him," Aklufi said.

Chavez is 5' 11" tall, weighs 175 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes, according to police.

He is currently in custody without bail after being held to answer in a preliminary hearing for attempted rape in Orange County.

Santa Monica Police Detectives are seeking information from members of the public "who may have encountered Chavez or experienced any similar incidents," Aklufi said.

Those with information should call Detective Holloway at 310-458-8934, Detective Spencer at 310-458-8420, Sgt. Goodwin at 310-458-8931, or the Watch Commander (24 Hours) at 310-458-8427.