Man charged with trying to sexually assault woman cleaning an office in Irvine

SANTA ANA — Criminal charges were filed Monday against a 21-year-old Santa Ana man accused of trying to sexually assault a woman cleaning an office in an Irvine commercial building.

Eduardo Godoy Gonzalez faces one count each of kidnapping to commit rape, assault with the intent to commit a sex offense, making criminal threats, second-degree burglary and false imprisonment, all felonies, as well as a misdemeanor count of brandishing a replica gun.

Gonzalez, who’s being held without bail, made his first court appearance in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana, but did not enter a plea. His arraignment was rescheduled to Feb. 22.

Police and prosecutors allege Gonzalez, carrying a skateboard with a fake Glock handgun in his sweatshirt pocket, approached the woman about 1:20 a.m. Wednesday at 17877 Von Karman Ave. The door to the office she was cleaning was unlocked, said Kim Mohr of the Irvine Police Department.

The suspect asked the victim in Spanish if she was working alone, and when she answered yes, he “made aggressive sexual comments to her” before demanding sex, Mohr said. When she refused, he pulled the replica gun out of his pocket and pointed it at her as he threatened to kill her, Mohr alleged.

The suspect pushed the victim into another room, where he tried to disrobe her, Mohr alleged. The victim pleaded for her life and fended off her attacker for about four minutes before she was managed to disarm him, then ran to a nearby office building for help, Mohr said.

Police found the fake gun at the crime scene. The victim, whose name was withheld, told detectives the suspect also had a knife, Mohr said.

She suffered bruises to her arms, hands and breasts, as well as scratches to her face, police said.

Police had released surveillance video of the incident. They said media coverage led to several tips that led investigators to Gonzalez.