Lancaster Man Charged in Rape, Kidnap of Worker at the Westfield Topanga Mall

An 18-year-old Lancaster man was charged Monday with more than a dozen felony counts, including forcible rape and kidnapping, stemming from a July 4 attack on a worker at the Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park.

Kioki Ray Snowden made his initial appearance Monday at the Van Nuys courthouse, but his arraignment was rescheduled to July 29.

Snowden, who's being held without bail, is accused of kidnapping the 19- year-old mall worker at knifepoint when she returned to her parked car at the shopping center. He then allegedly sexually assaulted and robbed her over a three-hour period.

He faces four counts of forcible rape, three counts of identity theft, two counts of kidnapping to commit another crime and one count each of second- degree robbery, sexual penetration by foreign object, forcible oral copulation, sodomy by use of force and second-degree commercial burglary.

The complaint includes special allegations that the defendant used a deadly weapon, a knife, in the commission of the offense; kidnapped and bound the victim; and substantially increased the risk of harm to her through movement.

If convicted as charged, Snowden faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, prosecutors said.

-- City News Service