A 77-year-old man accused of sexually battering a woman while she was hiking near Mt. Rubidoux earlier this year has been arrested and later released on bond, according to the Riverside Police Department.
Police identified the suspect as Toai Pham, who detectives say was taken into custody on May 8 at a local driving range. After being booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center, Pham was later released and is expected to appear in court on June 23 at the Riverside Superior Courthouse.
Investigators believe there could be additional victims who have not yet contacted authorities. Riverside Police Detective Steven Espinosa said detectives are encouraging anyone who may have encountered Pham, or someone matching his description, around the Mt. Rubidoux area to come forward.
“If you have seen Pham or someone with a similar description approaching women around the area of Mt. Rubidoux, we encourage you to come forward,” Espinosa said.
The investigation began after a woman contacted the department’s Public Safety Communications Center on the morning of March 9 at approximately 8:30 a.m. to report that she had been sexually battered while hiking in the Mt. Rubidoux area.
According to investigators, detectives later learned that Pham regularly hikes Mt. Rubidoux during the morning hours.
Police said the victim told investigators that Pham approached her during the hike and allegedly touched her inappropriately without consent.
Anyone with information related to the investigation is being asked to contact Officer James Payne at (951) 353-7113 or by email at [email protected].
Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the Riverside Police Department’s “Atlas 1” mobile app using the department’s secure “Send a Message” feature, which is available on both Apple and Android devices, authorities said.
