July 12, 2012 – Santa Barbara, Ca.
Jerry Providence Bonhomme, 30, has been arrested and charged with three separate sexual assaults involving elements of rape that allegedly occurred over the course of the past three years.
According to reports to the media by Sgt. Riley Harwood, Santa Barbara Police Department Public Information Officer, SBPD Detective Brian Larson arrested Bonhomme in February of this year pursuant to video recordings provided by EOS Lounge, a popular Santa Barbara after-hours night spot. The security videotape allegedly showed Bonhomme leaving the club with a heavily intoxicated female who later reported a sexual assault by him while she was unconscious on his bed. At that time, Bonhomme was booked on charges of raping an intoxicated person, digital penetration, and use of controlled substances.
“This victim’s report of this assault,” Harwood reported, “encouraged additional victims of prior incidents to come forward.”
One of those prior victims reported to SBPD that Bonhomme had raped her under similar circumstances in December 2011, when she and her boyfriend accepted the offer of a ride home from a downtown bar by Bonhomme. Like the later victim, she awakened in Bonhomme’s apartment to find herself engaged in involuntary sexual intercourse with him while her boyfriend was passed out nearby. With this additional allegation, Bonhomme was booked on charges of rape of a victim of an unconscious nature of the act while still in custody on the EOS Lounge case.
A third victim came forward this week to report a 2009 incident of nearly identical circumstances, wherein she had been socially engaged with Bonhomme at a Santa Barbara nightclub and subsequently awakened to find herself in his apartment with him on top of her and engaged in a sexual assault.
“All of these victims have been referred to the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center,” Harwood announced in his report to the media, indicating that additional potential victims are encouraged to come forward.
Bonhomme remains in Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of probation violation, and multiple rape charges, with bail set at $300,000.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking; www.eoslounge.com
Read more:
Noozhawk: ‘Serial Rapist’ Accused of Attacking Unconscious Women
KFSN-TV: Santa Barbara man charged with raping 3 unconscious women