Sex Offender Charged with 2 Attempted Murders in Beach Attacks

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Sex Offender Charged with 2 Attempted Murders in Beach Attacks

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Santa Monica, CA 90405
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By Jorge Casuso

June 26, 2024 -- The LA County District Attorney on Wednesday filed multiple charges -- including two for attempted murder -- against a homeless sexual offender on parole accused of attacking three women Monday morning on Santa Monica Beach.

Jawann Dwayne Garnett booking photo Jawann Dwayne Garnett
(Courtesy SMPD)

Jawann Dwayne Garnett, 31, who "has a significant criminal history" -- was also charged with felony child abuse and kidnapping during the attempted murder of a 17-year-old girl, according to police.

Garnett attacked the girl -- who was on the sand near Lifeguard Tower 13 -- "striking and strangling her," police said.

He also is charged with assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury and assault with intent to commit rape for punching and biting a 25-year-old female bystander who intervened in the attack.

A second charge of attempted murder, along with one for kidnapping, was filed against Garnett for pulling a woman in her 70s who was walking near the waterline "into the ocean and holding her underwater."

"Lifeguards and police officers were on-scene within minutes, interrupting Garnett’s attack and taking him into custody," said Lt. Erika Aklufi, the Police Department spokesperson.

The teenage victim was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries and later released, Aklufi said. The other two victims were treated at the scene by lifeguards and fire department personnel.

Garnett -- who is being held on $1 million bail -- has a record of previous arrests that include assault with intent to commit rape, false imprisonment and two assaults with a deadly weapon, including one involving a firearm.

He also was arrested twice for domestic violence, trespassing and failing to register as a sex offender, police said.

Garnett is currently on formal probation after being arrested in December 2021 by LAPD and convicted for attempted oral copulation through force and assault with the intent to commit sexual assault.

"He has been arrested for multiple violations of his probation terms and soon after released," Aklufi said.

Garnett was released on June 6, 2024, on his own recognizance for a probation violation and is scheduled to go to court for the violation on August 5, Aklufi said.

On June 9, he was arrested by Santa Monica police for failing to register as a sex offender, she said.

While in custody, Garnett "was registered as a sex offender in the City of Santa Monica and released with a citation with a promise to appear in court," Aklufi said.

"This was SMPD’s only encounter with Garnett prior to the attack on the beach," Aklufi said.

Anyone with information related to this incident or this individual should email Detective Lucero at Hilda.Lucero@santamonica.gov, Detective Sergeant Goodwin at Chad.Goodwin@santamonica.gov or call the Watch Commander 24 hours at 310-458-8427.

Disclosures