Santa Cruz Man Arrested For Sexual Assaults On Drunken Women

SANTA CRUZ (CBS SF) -- A 36-year-old Santa Cruz man has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault after police said he targeted women too intoxicated to give consent.

Santa Cruz police said James Sharp would meet women in local bars and take advantage of those who were blacked out or too drunk to give consent, according to Deputy Chief Steve Clark.

Sharp was arrested on May 9 in connection with one case from May 6 and was later released on bail.

During that investigation, however, Sharp was linked to another sexual assault after investigators found photos in his residence of a woman who reported being sexually assaulted on April 21, police said.

"Mr. Sharp collected trophies in remembrance of his victims that included photos or personal items," Clark said.

After locating the victim, who had been assaulted after blacking out, police confirmed Sharp was the suspect in that incident, Clark said.

On Saturday, police located Sharp in a local bar and took him into custody for a second time.

His bail has been increased to $5 million and he remains in custody in the Santa Cruz County Jail. Police believe there could be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to come forward, Clark said.

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