A San Diego judge will determine Monday whether there is enough evidence to hold a trial for two 16-year-old boys accused of sexually assaulting girls in a Rancho Penasquitos neighborhood.
The preliminary hearing is scheduled for Leonel Contreras and William Steven Rodriguez, who police arrested shortly after they allegedly sexually assaulted two girls on Sept. 3.
The girls told police that they were sitting under a tree that evening when two suspects approached them and forced them into a secluded area. There, the suspects held them at knife-point and sexually assaulted them, police said.
The suspects fled on bikes when one of the girls’ parents called their names. Detectives were able to present sketches to neighbors as part of their investigation.
Six days later, police arrested the suspects and charged them with multiple crimes.
The teens are being prosecuted as adults. If convicted, the two could face life in prison.
The hearing is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. in the San Diego County Courthouse.
