*CRIMINAL CASE UPDATE*

MAN CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

INDIO, CA. - Today, a Riverside County jury convicted Merle Ransom, (DOB 9/25/71), of the sexual assault and false imprisonment of a woman in June 2009. Ransom has five prior felony convictions and was on parole at the time of his most recent crime.

On June 4, 2009, the 18-year-old victim was waiting at a Desert Hot Springs bus stop for a bus to go take her to the street fair in Palm Springs. Ransom approached the woman, claimed to be heading the same direction, and offered her a ride. Ransom then paid another man, who he claimed was his neighbor, $15 to drive them to Palm Springs.

While in the back seat of the vehicle, Ransom began to smoke from his crack pipe. He offered the victim a chance to take part in the drug usage but she declined. After smoking, Ransom grabbed the victim's hand and made the victim touch him until she was able to pull her hand away. Ransom then grabbed the victim by the head and attempted to force the victim onto him. The victim struggled to free herself from Ransom and she was able to climb to the front seat of the moving vehicle. The victim said she was going to get out of the moving vehicle and the driver then agreed to stop at a nearby gas station.

The victim ran to the gas station and Ransom got out of the vehicle and chased her. A store clerk informed Ransom that he had contacted the police. Ransom was arrested at the scene by an arriving officer who observed him trying to flag down passing cars.

The case, INF065833, was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Joshua Hill. Ransom's sentencing date is expected to be scheduled on Monday, Dec. 7, 2009. He faces up to eight years and four months in state prison.