Kent Okukporo, 42, was arrested and charged with sexual battery, drugging someone with intent to commit sexual assault, and attempted kidnapping at the Abbey Food & Bar on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Bureau and the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station are investigating the case.
A statement from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station reveals that on February 25, patrol deputies received a call from a female adult and several witnesses who alleged a male adult had drugged her drink while she was inside The Abbey nightclub. When the victim became disoriented, the male grabbed her by the arm and attempted to take her outside of the location and into an unknown vehicle. As the male held onto her, he sexually assaulted her. The victim was able to get away from the suspect.
At the time of the incident, the suspect had been seen by security personnel at the location pulling on the victim, so they intervened, which caused the suspect to release the victim and flee the scene.
During the investigation, detectives reviewed surveillance footage of the suspect inside the nightclub with security personnel. The next day, the suspect returned to the nightclub where he was spotted and identified by nightclub security personnel as being the one who was seen pulling the female adult outside of the nightclub the previous evening. Security personnel contacted the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, who responded and detained the male adult. He was also identified by the female adult as the one who drugged her drink, attempted to take her outside, and sexually assaulted her.
Kent Okukporo was arrested and taken to the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station where he was booked under booking #6559183 with a bail of 160,000.00 dollars. Mr. Okukporo posted bail and was released on March 1, 2023.
Detectives presented their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Airport Court Branch, who reviewed the case and filed one count of drugging someone with the intent to commit a sexual assault, attempted kidnapping, and sexual battery under court case number SA107967. Mr. Okukporo has a scheduled court date of March 14, 2023, at the Airport Courthouse.
Police in West Hollywood are looking for more possible victims of the suspect.
The City of West Hollywood began distributing drink-spiking test strips in partnership with the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s WeHo Life program to West Hollywood nightlife establishments last October. Drink-spiking test strips are designed to detect the possible presence of “date rape” drugs, such as GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) or ketamine. The test-strip user drops a small amount of drink liquid on the testing patch, which turns dark blue if drugs are present.
If you see something, say something. Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. If you see something, say something. Anyone with information can also drop a tip at https://www.lacrimestoppers.org.
