Long Beach man pleads no contest today in 2014 rape and assault case

A 22-year-old Long Beach man was sentenced to 51 years in state prison for raping a woman and assaulting another in 2014.

Raymond Demetrius Howard pleaded no contest Tuesday to three felony counts — forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and assault with intent to commit a felony. He also admitted to special allegations that the committed great bodily injury on both his victims, that he used a deadly and dangerous weapon during the first attack, and that he used a firearm during the second attack.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Laura Laesecke ordered Howard to register as a sex offender for life.

Prosecutors say Howard met a woman June 18, 2014, at Signal Hill Park and tried to rape her. The woman fought back and was able to escape, according to the Los Angeles County District Attoey’s Office.

Less than two weeks later, he followed a woman from a bus stop to an alley where he beat her, raped her and forced her to perform oral sex on him.

The attack only stopped when a car drove by, the woman broke free and ran to a nearby gas station, prosecutors said.

Several law enforcement agencies began a join investigation and identified Howard as the suspect. He was arrested at his home July 3, 2014 and charged in coection with the rape and attacks.