Japanese Tourist Raped

By Anne La Jeunesse

Wednesday, May 26 --A Marina del Rey man has been charged with raping a 20-year-old Japanese woman who was visiting Santa Monica on Saturday after luring her to his apartment, according to authorities.

Kevin Hugh Lewis, 41 is charged in Culver City Municipal Court with one count each of forcible rape, rape by drugs and penetration by a foreign object, according to Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Lewis was arrested Sunday, a day following the alleged assault on the Japanese tourist, who has since returned to Japan, said Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Barbara Block.

Lewis, who travels to Japan on business and speaks Japanese, met the alleged victim on the Third Street Promenade on Saturday, according to authorities. He and the victim chatted, shared dinner and then went to his Marina del Rey residence, where he sexually assaulted her, investigators said.

After the assault, she was returned to the Third Street Promenade, where she summoned a taxi to take her to her hotel, according to investigators. She appeared ill and disoriented and was taken to a hospital, and later to a rape treatment center.

Lewis was being held in lieu of $270,000 bail and was expected to enter a plea on Tuesday.

Investigation of the alleged assault continues, Block said.