A Brazilian au pair identified a man on May 7 as the man who raped her in Pacific Beach in 2018 while she was visiting the area while vacationing with her host family in La Jolla.
The nanny testified in the rape trial of Seth Alan Roberts, now 22, who is also charged with raping two other women in 2018. He has pleaded not guilty.
The young woman who assists her host family with child care testified she had a day off on Nov. 17, 2018, and was walking around Pacific Beach when Roberts came up and began talking to her.
Deputy District Attorney Judy Taschner told jurors in an opening statement on May 6 that Roberts came off as “friendly and charming” to her. He told her his roommate’s girlfriend was also from Brazil and invited the au pair to his house.
“Let’s go to my house,” said Roberts, according to the witness.
The au pair walked with Roberts to a house and he directed her to go to the back of the house, which was deserted. He then pulled a knife and threatened to kill her, she testified.
Taschner told San Diego Superior Court jurors he raped her and also committed digital penetration. Roberts heard a car alarm go off, and he suddenly ran off, said the prosecutor.
“She’s very traumatized by what happened,” said Taschner, who added that she called a ride service to get back to her host family staying in a La Jolla hotel.
The victim did not initially tell the family what happened but waited three days later until they were in Palm Springs. When the au pair told the host what happened, he called Palm Springs Police and she made a report to them.
Also testifying Friday was a police officer who took the report and a nurse who conducted a rape exam of the victim.
Roberts’ attorney Damian Lowe, told jurors and Judge Eugenia Eyherabide there were two sides to the story. He said the evidence that will be presented doesn’t support the eight charges filed against him.
Lowe urged the jurors not to be swayed by emotional testimony and to decide the case on the facts.
Another young woman said Roberts sexually assaulted her in 2018 at knifepoint in her bedroom in the South Bay. Roberts is also accused of raping his former girlfriend whom he hitchhiked together from Oklahoma.
The trial continues this week. Roberts remains in the South Bay Detention Facility on $2 million bail since his arrest on Dec. 6, 2018.
