August hearing for man accused of sexual attacks

An Aug. 16 preliminary hearing has been set for a Chula Vista man suspected of sexually assaulting two women the same night.

Ismael Hernandez, 27, has pleaded not guilty to 13 felony counts involving two women who were both attacked on May 5. One woman was assaulted twice the same night in Balboa Park and the other was attacked in the 1600 block of 19th Ave. behind an electrical box in San Diego.

Hernandez is accused of rape, forcible oral copulation, digital penetration, rape with a cell phone as a sexual object, and two counts of sexual battery at knifepoint, according to the charges. This allegedly occurred to a woman who was forced to walk along 8th and 9th Avenues into Balboa Park at knifepoint at 10 p.m.

He’s also accused of forcible oral copulation, and three counts of rape plus attempted kidnapping with the second woman. San Diego Police investigated both assaults.

Hernandez was arrested May 7 in the 700 block of Broadway in Chula Vista. A San Diego Superior Court judge set bail at $5 million. He remains in the central jail.