Man Pleads Guilty to Assault on Freeway

A Newhall man pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of sexual battery for attempting to rape a woman whose car broke down on the Golden State Freeway near Sylmar on Christmas Day.

Pedro Sanchez, 20, will be sentenced to three years in state prison for assaulting the 21-year old Palmdale woman.

After her car was disabled, the woman pulled onto the shoulder of the northbound freeway just south of the Antelope Valley Freeway interchange and went to a nearby call box to summon her boyfriend and the California Highway Patrol.

After she returned to her car to await help, Sanchez and three other men pulled over and offered assistance. She declined, but Sanchez forced his way into her car.

Sanchez, who fled when the woman’s boyfriend drove up and fought him off, was captured after a passing California Youth Authority officer saw him run down a steep freeway embankment and hide in a shed behind a house near the Sierra Highway. Alerted by the CYA officer, police arrested Sanchez there.

Sanchez’s wallet was found in the victim’s car, where it apparently had fallen during the attack, authorities said.

Police released the other three men, saying they did not take part in the attack.

Sentencing was scheduled for Jan. 20.