Charges filed against man accused of sexual assault on 14-year-old boy at El Sereno Park

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed charges against a man Thursday accused of allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old child at El Sereno Park.

Edward William Banks, 27, has been charged with one count each of kidnapping to commit another crime, forcible oral copulation of a minor age 14 or older, forcible sodomy of a minor age 14 or older, and forcible sexual penetration of a minor age 14 or older. 

LAPD "received information of a sexual assault investigation" Tuesday, according to a department statement, that led to Banks' arrest Wednesday. 

The suspect allegedly approached the boy and threatened the child with an unknown weapon before forcing the child into a bathroom, where the sexual assault occurred. 

"The sexual assault of a child is one of the most horrific crimes we see in my office," District Attorney George Gascón said. "Crimes like these are devastating and shatter the innocence of our children. My experienced team will work tirelessly to hold accountable the person responsible for this attack."