USC Graduate Student Accused of Serial Drugging and Rape

Crime

USC Graduate Student Accused of Serial Drugging and Rape

1 month ago

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USC Graduate Student Accused of Serial Drugging and Rape

Credited from: SFGATE

USC graduate student Sizhe Weng charged with multiple counts of sexual assault.
Allegations involve drugging and incapacitating victims since 2021.
Investigators are urging potential additional victims to come forward.

Sizhe Weng, a 30-year-old graduate student from the University of Southern California, has been charged with multiple counts of drugging and raping women, with police labeling him a serial sexual predator. He was arrested on August 28 and faces eight felony counts, including forcible rape and sodomy facilitated by controlled substances, according to Los Angeles Times and South China Morning Post.

The investigation began in January 2025 when authorities received information from Germany regarding a potential suspect who had been drugging women before sexually assaulting them. Weng's residence was searched, yielding evidence supporting claims of drug-facilitated sexual assaults stretching back to 2021. Weng, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, remains in custody without bail, according to India Times and SFGate.

The Los Angeles Public Defender's Office has not confirmed whether Weng has legal representation. The district attorney, Nathan Hochman, emphasized the importance of hearing victims' voices, stating, “We want every victim to know that their voices matter and we will fight to ensure you are heard,” as reported by SFGate and SFGate. He faces severe penalties if convicted, amounting to 25 years to life plus an additional 56 years in state prison.