Police: 14-year-old girl kidnapped, raped
| Thursday, Jul 23 2009 08:06 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Jul 23 2009 08:06 PM
THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN
Police arrested a man Wednesday night on charges he kidnapped and raped a 14-year-old girl he happened upon in southwest Bakersfield two days before, authorities said Thursday.
Bakersfield police arrested 43-year-old Richard James Berkowitz of Bakersfield, according to a news release. He was booked into Kern County jail on several charges: rape by force; forced oral copulation; rape with a foreign object; kidnap with intent to commit rape; and sexual assault involving someone with a 10-year age difference.
Police said the girl, whom Berkowitz didn't know, was intoxicated and had passed out near the intersection of White Lane and Gosford Road when Berkowitz came across her.
Authorities alleged Berkowitz took the girl to a nearby residence and assaulted her. After the girl was released, police said, she made her way home and reported the crime.
Police said that based on her recollection of the suspect's car and where the assault occurred, detectives were able to find the crime scene and, later, Berkowitz.
Berkowitz was interviewed and arrested at the Bakersfield Police Department, the release said.
