The Santa Monica man, who was arrested last month for kidnapping a UCLA student, has officially been charged with the crime as well as the rape of another woman from October 2025.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s officed announced 25-year-old Alexander Schecter was charged with five counts of felony crime, including kidnapping to commit another crime and forcible rape.
Schecter was arrested last month for the alleged kidnapping on March 8. Police said Schecter was supposed to drop off the UCLA student, but instead, he prevented her from getting out of the car and continued to drive half a mile on Gayle Avenue.
While the suspect was out on bail on the kidnapping charge, detectives began to look closely into Schecter and determined he was linked to a previously unreported rape in Culver City. The female victim, who has no known ties to UCLA, was assaulted on Oct. 12, 2025 between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. near Venice Boulevard and Clarington Avenue, police said.
Schecter was arrested again for the alleged rape, but he was freed on bond the next day, jail records showed.
“I want to first recognize the bravery of the victims for coming forward to report what happened to them. Their bravery not only brings us closer to justice but also helps us protect others,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement.
Until his scheduled arraignment on May 4, Schecter will remain out on bail, largely because of a judge’s decision, according to the DA’s office.
“Despite our office’s request to increase bail, the court continued the bail review hearing,” the DA’s office told NBC Los Angeles in a statement.
Although the prosecution asked the judge to set Schecter’s bail at $1.4 million, it remained set at $700,000 as of Monday afternoon,
If convicted as charged, Schecter faces 38 years to life in state prison.
Anyone who believes to have been a victim or has information related to this case was urged to contact the UCLA police at 310-825-9371.