A man was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting three women in Southern California.
Charles Edward Gaines III, 32, of Aurora, Colorado, had attacked the victims between February 2019 and May 2020 in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
The first attack happened on Feb. 27, 2019, in Northridge. Gaines used a fake name on a dating app and picked up the female victim for a movie date. Instead of going to the theater, he took the woman’s phone and demanded she perform sexual acts. When she refused, Gaines violently raped her. After the attack, he dropped her off at a fast-food restaurant, returned her phone and drove away.
The victim called 911 and underwent a sexual assault examination where DNA evidence was collected. Weeks after the attack, Gaines contacted the woman again, sending text messages that blamed her for what happened while expressing a desire to engage in additional sexual acts. When the woman declined, he sent her threatening messages.
On December 10, 2019, Gaines targeted a homeless woman in Encino. He offered to let her warm up in his car. When she entered the backseat, Gaines moved to the back as well and grabbed her. The woman struggled to free herself but Gaines threatened her, then raped her.
At some point, the woman was able to escape from the car while also grabbing Gaines’ cellphone. She ran towards a grocery store and an employee let her in. Gaines followed and began wrestling the woman for the cellphone. He eventually grabbed the phone and fled. Later that day, the victim reported the assault and underwent a sexual assault examination where DNA from the attack was collected.
A third victim, a 16-year-old girl, was targeted by Gaines on March 27, 2020, in Simi Valley. The teen met Gaines on a dating app where he had used a fake name. After agreeing to meet, he picked the girl up from her home and drove a short distance away before parking. They both moved to the backseat of the car.
“What started out as consensual quickly turned into Gaines forcing himself on the victim,” court documents said. As the girl yelled for him to stop, he ignored her and raped her. She continued struggling and eventually grabbed the door handle and fled the car.
Gaines jumped into the driver’s seat and sped away. Shortly after, Gaines texted the girl and threatened to kill her. The teen reported the attack and underwent a sexual assault exam where DNA was collected.
On May 23, 2020, Gaines attempted to rape a fourth woman in Canoga Park with whom he’d previously had consensual sex with. When she refused to have sex with him again, he sent her violent messages, including threatening to send nude pictures of her to her family and friends unless she agreed to have sex with him.
He also told the woman he was outside her home and if she didn’t come outside and have sex with him, that he would ruin her life.
In May 2020 and February 2021, the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) provided suspect DNA matches for the three sexual assaults. The data confirmed all three assaults were committed by the same suspect.
In August 2022, Gaines was arrested in Aurora, Colorado on an unrelated matter. During that arrest, a DNA sample was collected and uploaded to CODIS. Based on that upload, Gaines’ DNA was linked to the three attacks, authorities said.
In October 2022, Gaines was arrested in Colorado in connection with the sexual assault crimes. He was extradited to Ventura County and has remained in custody since.
On Feb. 25, Gaines was convicted by a jury convicted of forcible sodomy and attempted rape of two victims. The jury deadlocked on other charges.
On May 7, Gaines pled guilty to forcibly raping the two additional victims and admitted that one of the victims was a minor at the time of the attack.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled on May 6, where he will face 19 years in prison.
“Gaines targeted women who were vulnerable,” said Brent Nibecker, a Ventura County District Attorney who prosecuted the case. “But what he didn’t count on was their bravery. The courage these women showed by assisting in this investigation and then coming to court and sharing what he did to them was exceptional. Their actions served to protect others from being victimized by Gaines.”
More information about the Ventura County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative can be found here.
Victims of past sexual assaults can also use the website to find supportive services or receive help to find out if their sexual assault kits have been tested.