A Redondo Seaside man charged with drugging and sexually assaulting a number of ladies will stay in custody as prosecutors search for extra alleged victims who might be added to the case.
Michael DiGiorgio, 50, was charged with a number of counts of rape, sodomy and one rely of homicide final month by the Los Angeles County district legal professional’s workplace.
This marks the second time that he was charged in reference to assaults on ladies. In August 2020 he confronted comparable costs, which have been dismissed however have been lately refiled with the addition of a homicide cost.
On Wednesday, Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom Choose Susan DeWitt denied DiGiorgio’s request to be launched on bail, discovering that he continued a sample of “extraordinarily dangerous” conduct after a earlier case was dismissed. Prosecutors declare DiGiorgio continued to drug and sexually assault ladies at his house after the case was dismissed.
The earlier case in opposition to him was dismissed in 2021 on account of a technicality relating to a search warrant of his digital gadgets, court docket information present. Prosecutors meant to refile their case however waited greater than three years.
In between the 2 circumstances, prosecutors watched his house, reviewed the proof and decided {that a} homicide cost was warranted.
He was arrested and charged for the second time on Oct. 16 after prosecutors reconsidered the info surrounding the alleged crimes. Investigators additionally performed surveillance of his house, which they reportedly witnessed younger ladies leaving. Throughout a search of his house, investigators discovered a transparent vial that examined constructive for a drug that might be used to anesthetize an individual, Deputy Dist. Atty. Catherine Ann Mariano mentioned in court docket on Wednesday.
Prosecutors consider DiGiorgio additionally gave his victims fentanyl and investigators have recognized six further ladies who they are saying have been sexually assaulted and recorded whereas unconscious.
The crimes have been allegedly dedicated between 2019 and November 2021 at DiGiorgio’s properties in Redondo Seaside and Hermosa Seaside, in response to authorities. In response to court docket information, DiGiorgio is charged with the homicide, rape by use of medicine and different costs of Jane Doe 1 on July 6, 2020.
He’s additionally accused of promoting or transporting a managed substance on Nov. 28, 2021.
DiGiorgio appeared in court docket handcuffed, his chest naked and his jail jumpsuit pulled right down to his waist. He didn’t communicate quite a lot of phrases together with his protection legal professional, Pat Carey, who mentioned his consumer didn’t try to flee the state after his earlier case was dismissed, suggesting that his consumer shouldn’t be a flight danger.
Mariano mentioned that maintaining DiGiorgio in custody is a public security concern, as a result of his earlier arrest didn’t appear to discourage him from allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting extra victims.
Carey declined to remark outdoors the courtroom and instructed the court docket he wants extra time to overview the proof within the case. Further costs might be added to the case, Mariano mentioned, because the investigation continues to develop.
