UCLA kidnapping suspect accused of sexual assault freed on bail

A man detained for allegedly kidnapping two UCLA students and sexually assaulting another woman in a separate case has been released on bail.

Alexander Schecter, 26, from Santa Monica, faced accusations of confining two female UCLA students in his car on campus and threatening them around 3 a.m. on March 8.

According to authorities, Schecter halted near the 500 block of Landfair Avenue and did not allow the students to exit the vehicle while issuing threats. Concerned for their safety, the women remained in the car as he drove approximately half a mile to the 400 block of Gayley Avenue. He was charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment.

Following a police investigation, Schecter was arrested on March 12 and later released on bail.

About a week later, authorities searched Schecter’s home and detained him again, this time on charges of raping a woman in October of the previous year. The alleged assault occurred between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. near Venice Boulevard and Clarington Avenue, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Schecter faces charges of rape by force, forcible oral copulation, robbery, extortion, and battery, according to law enforcement. Neither Schecter nor the alleged victim have any affiliation with the university.

He was released on a $600,000 bond for the October charges and is due to appear in court on April 15.

Police suspect there may be additional victims and are encouraging anyone with information to come forward.

“It makes dating scary, too. I mean, we’re all so focused as students, and you never know who you’re meeting,” UCLA student Precious King told ABC 7. “You assume it’s another student you’re talking to, but it could be a random person who’s just hanging around campus or trying to stay in the college scene.”

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