MAN CHARGED WITH WESTSIDE RAPES ASSAULTED

By Anne La Jeunesse

A man suspected of being the Westside Rapist who investigators say sexually assaulted at least seven women in Santa Monica, West Los Angeles and Venice since October, was himself assaulted in jail Wednesday, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman.

Jelani Efron King, 20, of Los Angeles, who was arrested in LAPD's Pacific Division area Monday evening on suspicion of rape, was assaulted about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday by another inmate as he was entering his cell in Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles, said Sheriff's Deputy Steven Flamm.

King suffered cuts to his left cheek near his eye, Flamm said.

"The assault, which lasted seconds, was quelled by verbal commands from deputies," Flamm said.

King was treated at the jail's medical clinic, and a complaint about the incident has been submitted to the county District Attorney's Office for review, Flamm said.

King pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Santa Monica Municipal Court to nine felony counts, including three counts of rape, one count each of sexual battery by restraint and attempted rape, two counts of residential burglary and one count each of assault likely to produce great bodily harm and unlawful taking of a vehicle.

More counts are expected to be added to the charges against King, said Deputy District Attorney Michael Latin.

King could receive up to 85 years or more in prison if convicted of the crimes charged against him Wednesday, said Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office.

King has been linked by DNA evidence to six of seven rapes of which he is suspected, according to LAPD Officer Jason Lee.

He was arrested following an intense manhunt by a task force including investigators from the state Department of Justice, LAPD, Santa Monica Police and University of California - Los Angeles campus police.

King is suspected of having committed rapes in Santa Monica on Dec. 21 and March 18, in Venice on Feb. 11 and 23, and in Palms on Feb. 19, March 26 and April 5.

He is being held without bail and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 22.