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Volume 8 Issue 134
Santa Monica Daily Press 200 MILLION FRIENDS? SEE PAGE 13
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THE GOING FOR TWO ISSUE
SMC assault suspect pleads not guilty BY MELODY HANATANI Daily Press Staff Writer
AIRPORT COURTHOUSE A Malibu man accused of sexually assaulting a Santa Monica College student in the campus library pleaded not guilty to felony charges on Thursday. The L.A. County District Attorney’s Office charged Chase Guy Reynolds, 40, with two counts of sexual battery by restraint, one count of attempted sexual penetration by a foreign object and one count of second degree robbery in the alleged incident on April 4. He faces up to 13 years in state prison if
found guilty. He is due back in court on May 13 to set his preliminary hearing. The prosecution was seeking a $250,000 bail. Reynolds was arrested on Tuesday after a woman contacted campus police about having seen a man who closely resembled a composite sketch of the suspect, which was released the previous day. Police detained the suspect as he left the library near the location where the alleged assault occurred. He was later identified by both the witness and victim, a 19-year-old SMC student. SMPD Lt. Darrell Lowe said that he is unsure whether Reynolds is currently enrolled at SMC, but noted that the college
does have his records on file. The assault reportedly took place as the victim exited a restroom at the SMC library. The suspect is accused of pinning her against a nearby wall. Police said the REYNOLDS suspect, who also stole the victim’s house key, fled when he was startled by an announcement over the intercom. Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the district attorney, said the suspect had allegedly
approached the victim a previous time. The charges relate to the April 4 incident. Lowe said the two individuals did not have a previous relationship. “She had seen him in the library, but they were not friends,” Lowe said. “This was not an acquaintance type situation; I would categorize him as a recognized stranger.” Police did not have information on Reynolds’ occupation. Lowe said that the suspect was uncooperative with investigators and invoked his right to remain silent. Reynolds does not have a criminal background but police have reached out to other SEE PLEA PAGE 10
Council forms tree task force BY MELODY HANATANI Daily Press Staff Writer
CITY HALL The Santa Monica Treesavers scored a victory on Tuesday when the City Council voted to establish a new task force that would advise on the development of an urban forest master plan. The new task force, joining the long list of boards and commissions that advise the council, will be responsible for helping city officials as they develop a long-range master plan concerning tree matters, including an updated inventory, maintenance requirements and an assessment of the environmental benefits of an urban forest. The decision comes after a group of residents and business owners rallied against a controversial plan that called for the removal and transplantation of 54 ficus trees from Downtown Santa Monica. Following a series of court appeals and council hearings, all of which ruled on City Hall’s side, the plan was scaled back to affect only 23 trees identified as structurally deficient from Second and Fourth streets. The seven-member committee will be comprised of individuals from the commu-
JUMPING FOR JOY
Fabian Lewkowicz FabianLewkowicz.com Kids with the Santa Monica Police Activities League jump rope during 'Spring Fling' at Will Rogers State Park on Thursday.
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