This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Two men are accused of raping a 62-year-old homeless woman on a Santa Barbara beach this week after plotting the assault over beers.
The victim told Santa Barbara police that the two suspects—who are cousins—sexually assaulted her early Wednesday morning on East Beach along the 600 block of Cabrillo Boulevard, reported KEYT.
Authorities discovered during their investigation that Juan Carlos Herrera Romero, 30, and Gabino Andres Grande Romero, 26, were allegedly hanging out Tuesday evening fishing at Stearns Wharf and drinking beers, and discussing finding a homeless woman to rape.
"They set out to find a victim, and several hours later encountered the aforementioned woman camping on the beach with a 69-year-old male companion," Santa Barbara Police Dept. Sgt. Riley Harwood said. "While brandishing a knife, Juan Romero and Gabino Romero physically subdued the two subjects and took turns sexually assaulting the woman."
The woman had gone to a nearby Doubletree Hotel after the attack and told the employees in the lobby about what had happened. They reported it to police around 3:53 a.m., according to Noozhawk.
After identifying Juan Romero as one of the suspects, police arrested him that afternoon at a construction site, and later that evening took Gabino Romero into custody when they spotted him while he was driving.
They are both booked at Santa Barbara County jail and held on $250,000 bail each.
