The West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station held a conference late Thursday afternoon to speak on the arrest of Kent Okukporo, 42, who was charged with sexual battery, drugging someone with intent to commit sexual assault and attempted kidnapping in an incident on Saturday, February 25, 2023. The incident occurred at The Abbey WeHo.
In response to the press conference, The Abbey WeHo released the following statement:
“This is the first arrest West Hollywood Sherriff’s have made in the recent wave of alleged drinking spiking and drugging. The suspect was arrested because of The Abbey’s well-trained security team. We work closely with law enforcement on these efforts including many undercover operations. Our law enforcement partners have repeatedly told us that our security team is the most professional, most cooperative, and most effective at preventing these and other types of crimes.
The media coverage around this incident and people taking to social media to attack The Abbey has been misguided. As a community, we cannot discuss drugs, overconsumption, and criminal activity present in nightlife without also addressing personal responsibility and accountability.
Our service staff are trained to follow state and local laws for alcohol consumption. They do not serve people who have visibly over consumed. We check IDs at the main gate, at bars and tables. We have security cameras over every bar station and see every drink that is made. When we see intoxicated guests leaving the venue together, we ask to make sure they are supposed to be leaving together. When we see over intoxicated guests in the venue, we escort them out and help them secure a safe ride home.
We will always encourage anyone who believes their drink has been spiked or drugged, which is a crime, to report the incident to law enforcement immediately. If possible, they should go straight to the hospital and ask to be treated and for a toxicology report, which are very important steps in aiding law enforcement investigations. We have an extensive network of cameras throughout our venues, including body cameras on our security guards. We share that footage with law enforcement whenever it is requested. If we see a crime committed on camera, we report it ourselves.
We want people to have a good time and we want people to be safe. We also want our guests to be aware of their choices, their surroundings and their limits.”
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Kent Okukporo was 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, attempt kidnapping, and sexual battery under court case number SA107967. Mr. Okukporo has a next scheduled court date of March 14, 2023, at the Airport Courthouse.
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.
