Suspect in brutal assault on 63-year-old Sawtelle woman pleads not guilty

A man suspected of hitting a young child before breaking into the west Los Angeles home of a 63-year-old woman, physically attacking and sexually assaulting her, pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in the case Thursday.

Ishmail Bangura, 33, allegedly attacked a child at an apartment complex in the west LA neighborhood of Sawtelle and then broke into a woman's home and attacked her on Feb. 27, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. He has been charged with a felony count of assault to commit a forcible rape during the commission of a first-degree residential burglary and a felony count of child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death, according to prosecutors. 

He entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment Thursday, the same day the DA's office formally announced the charges. His bail has been set at $2 million as he awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 25.

"Violence against children and older adults — some of the most vulnerable members of our community — is beyond reprehensible," District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement announcing the charges, which include potential sentencing enhancements.

Police have said Bangura hit a 3-year-old child in the face before going on to assault the woman, who spoke out earlier this week as she identified herself as the survivor of the brutal attack. Prosecutors said Bangura physically attacked the woman inside her home and then sexually assaulted her outside the residence before neighbors intervened. He was later detained by law enforcement. 

"I couldn't get out from under him," Cherie Harter said earlier this week, explaining that the suspect had placed her into a headlock after breaking into her home. "That was the scariest feeling ever."  

She said he threatened to rape and kill her, attempting to muffling her screams for help by shoving a lime into her mouth. 

Witnesses have said that some construction workers and other Good Samaritans in the area rushed over to her home upon hearing the screams, cornering Bangura before law enforcement officers responded. 

"I am scared," Harter said, speaking about the assault just days later. "The past two days have been really hard mentally."

According to prosecutors, the assault charge filed against Bangura carries a special allegation of inflicting great bodily injury upon the victim in the commission of a sexual offense while both felony charges in the case involve other special allegations.

"For both charges, it is further alleged that the offenses involved great violence and other acts disclosing a high degree of cruelty; the victims were particularly vulnerable; and the defendant's violent conduct indicates a serious danger to society," the DA's office said in a statement Thursday, listing the allegations which carry potential sentencing enhancements.

Harter said she needed 10 stitches to close a wound she suffered to her forehead and was left with cuts along her arms and bruises all over her face. But she said the emotional damage she's suffered has been even more painful than the physical wounds.

"I just want him put away," she said. "I don't want him hitting little 3-year-old girls or attacking 63-year-old women."