Full Notification

A suspect was arrested Saturday evening by Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau detectives in the case involving multiple female victims with severe disabilites (Suspect #1). A second suspect has been located in state prison (Suspect #4).

On Friday night, Los Angeles Police Department detectives notified sheriff's detectives that they recognized two of the four suspects depicted in the photos and composites.

The man described as Suspect #4 in images previously provided by the sheriff's department, has been identified as Bert Hicks, a 42-year old Black male from Los Angeles who is currently incarcerated in Tehachapi State Prison.

Hicks is incarcerated in state prison for a city of Los Angeles felony case handled by the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPD detective who handled that case recognized Hicks from the sheriff's department images as soon as the detective saw them, and notified the LASD.

Hicks was convicted of caretaker, lewd and lascivious acts on a dependent adult. The assault that resulted in Hicks' arrest was not videotaped. Hicks is not due for release from prison until 2012. LAPD and sheriff's detectives are working together to compare the acts for which Hicks is alleged to have committed on the videotape, against the acts for which he was convicted and currently incarcerated. This will assist in determining further charges against Hicks, if any.

The man described as Suspect #1 in images previously provided by the sheriff's department, has been identified as Ernie Lloyd, a 27-year old Hispanic male who resides in the city of Los Angeles. He was arrested at West Hollywoood Sheriff's Station on Saturday at 5:30PM.

Suspect #1, now identified as Ernie Lloyd, was also recognized by an LAPD detective due to a case the LAPD had previously investigated in the city of Los Angeles. Since Thursday night, LAPD and sheriff's detectives have also worked together to further investigate this case.

On Saturday morning, Suspect Lloyd arrived at the Hollywood Station of the Los Angeles Police Department, saying he had seen himself on the news and that he knew he was wanted. LAPD officers called sheriff's detectives.

Later that day, Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau detectives interviewed Suspect Lloyd at West Hollywood Sheriffs Station, where he implicated himself.

Lloyd was arrested by Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau detectives for rape of a person with disabilities (261(a)(1) California Penal Code). His bail amount was set at $100,000.00.

The investigation is still in its early stages but detectives believe that it occured in 2007 or earlier, at a residential care facility in the city of Los Angeles, where both Suspect Lloyd and the female adult victim were living at that time.

Detectives have identified the 25-year old White female victim by name, that Lloyd is alleged to have assaulted, but have not yet been able to locate her. Neither she nor Lloyd still live at the residential care facility where the alleged assault occurred. Sheriff's detectives are working with investigators with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), and LAPD to locate the victim, assist her, and further investigate the assault.


Since information was first made public on Thursday, January 6, scores of tips have come in to the sheriff's department hotline, as well as through regular communication sources.

"The public is clearly shocked and disturbed by every aspect of this case," said Sheriff's Detective Sergeant Dan Scott. "We have heard from many people who want to help, as well as from people who fear their loved ones may have been among the women abused. The best thing we can do for everyone, especially the victims, is to diligently follow every lead, work to find and protect the victims, arrest the suspects, and somehow bring some justice to these profoundly disturbing crimes."

"Thanks to detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department, two of the four suspects depicted have been identified," said Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau Detective Sergeant Dan Scott. "One suspect was already in prison, and now a second has been arrested. Working together, we have also identified one of the victims and will not stop until we find her."

"While progress has been made on this shocking case, there is much more to be done. There are still two more suspects whose images have been shared who have not yet been identified, as well as four other suspects. Of great importance to us as well, is that we need to find and help all of the victims."

Investigators are seeking the public’s assistance. Please contact the Special Victims Bureau at their special toll free hotline at (866) 247-5877 or your local sheriff's station, as soon as possible.

A special request comes from detectives to the anonymous person who sent us the video: Please use Crimestoppers, a totally anonymous communication system, to contact us. We would very much like to ask you a few important questions about how these videos were acquired and where they came from. You have already been a great help by giving us the videos but we need more help to be able to find the victims. We are concerned they are still being abused and want to find them and ensure they are safe.


Information can be provided anonymously, by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637) or by accessing the Crime Stoppers website at www.lacrimestoppers.org.


General Etiquette concerning persons with disabilities:

People with disabilities prefer that you focus on their abilities, not their disabilities. Always emphasize the person first. Avoid the terms “handicapped,” “physically challenged,” and other similar references. The preferred usage is “people with disabilities” or “persons with disabilities.” The term “disabled people,” although used, may be offensive because this term defines people as disabled first and people second. Language is powerful, but attitudes and behaviors are the most difficult barriers for people with disabilities to overcome.

For more information:

Disability Etiquette: Interacting With Persons With Disabilities.
By the Judicial Council of California, Access and Fairness Advisory Committee

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/access/documents/etiquette.pdf


Community Care Licensing Division
California Department of Social Services

http://www.ccld.ca.gov/


Department of Public Social Services
Los Angeles County
http://www.ladpss.org/


Updates to this case are being posted on www.lasd.org which is the official website of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department:

Watch the January 6, 2011, sexual assault investigation press conference:

www.lasd.org


UPDATE: Two Suspects Identified in Sexual Assaults of Disabled Women:

http://sheriff.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/lasd/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3hLAwMDd3-nYCN3M19LA0_nEDPvMJMAQ39jA_2CbEdFAFVdgp4!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/lasd+content/lasd+site/home/home+top+stories/2011jan06_svb_presser


Original press release, photos and sketch composites of the suspects:

http://file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_155307.pdf



Dan Scott, Detective Sergeant
Special Victims Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department


Mike Parker, Captain
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(323) 267-4800
www.lasd.org









UPDATE: January 07, 2011



Late last night Sheriff’s Detectives from the Special Victims Bureau were contacted by detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department advising us that they recognized two of the suspects in this case. The LAPD cases involved one location investigated in 2007 and 2009 resulting in one conviction for a sexual assault. Their original cases also involved neglect, fiduciary crimes and sexual assault. LAPD’s cases did not have any videos involved.



Detectives from the Special Victims Bureau are meeting with LAPD detectives today to collaborate on these cases in an effort to identify the remaining suspects and victims. Detectives have also been in contact with the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing, in an effort to identify locations, suspects and victims. Community Care Licensing makes regular inspections and licenses Residential Care Facilities. The Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau has received dozens of tips from the public which are being reviewed and investigated.



Original Press Release, January 6, 2011:

Detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying at least four male suspects who are suspected of being involved in the sexual assaults of at least ten women who appear to be severely disabled.

The Sheriff’s Department recently acquired images from a computer hard drive from an anonymous source. It contains over 100 hours of video of a sequence of at least ten female adult victims being sexually assaulted by at least eight men. There are several locations depicted but at least one location appears to be a residential care facility. All of the victims appear to be people who are severely disabled.

The extremely disturbing videos are not being released to the public, but photos from portions of the video are being released in an effort to identify some of the suspects and at least one room depicted. Composite drawings of four of the suspects have been made based upon video images, in order to help identify them. Images of the victims are not being released. It is not yet known who the suspects or victims are, or where and when these sexual assaults occurred.

Investigators are seeking the public’s assistance to help. Please contact the Special Victims Bureau at their special toll free hotline at (866) 247-5877 as soon as possible.

"Detectives from the Special Victims Bureau are concerned that these sexual assaults might still be occurring, said Sergeant Dan Scott.. "The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department welcomes information that can lead to stopping these criminals,” he said.

A special request comes from detectives to the anonymous person who sent us the video: Please use Crimestoppers, a totally anonymous communication system, to contact us. We would very much like to ask you a few important questions about how these videos were acquired and where they came from. You have already been a great help by giving us the videos but we need more help to be able to find the victims. We are concerned they are still being abused and want to find them and ensure they are safe.


Information can be provided anonymously, by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637) or by accessing the Crime Stoppers website at www.lacrimestoppers.org.


To receive more detailed, up-to-date information directly from the LASD via e-mail, register for "Nixle" alerts at www.Nixle.com or more directly at https://local.nixle.com/register/ and register for "LASD - Headquarters Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff" and your local LASD station area. Or, text your zip code to 888777 to receive text alerts only. Standard text messaging rates may apply depending on your calling plan.

Dan Scott, Detective Sergeant
Special Victims Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department


Mike Parker, Captain
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(323) 267-4800
www.lasd.org


Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff"s Department