Disabled woman sexually assaulted on video 'very traumatized,' lives in 'extreme fear,' detectives say

One of at least eight men seen in the videos of alleged sexual assaults on at least 10 women who appear to be severely disabled. The Sheriff's Department acquired a computer hard drive from an anonymous source. It contains over 100 hours of video of the women apparently being attacked. There are several locations depicted, but at least one appears to be a residential care facility. Composite drawings of four of the suspects have been made based on the video images.

The disabled woman seen on a videotape being sexually assaulted is "very traumatized" over the incident and lives in "extreme fear" that her alleged assailants will strike again, according to detectives with the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.

Officials released details of an interview detectives had with the woman. Authorities did not release her name or the facility where the attack occurred, saying the woman wants her privacy.

"Her medical conditions have caused her to be physically defenseless; however, she was able to communicate with detectives," officials said in a statement. "Her interview Monday with sheriff's Special Victims Bureau detectives was very emotional and painful for her. Detectives described her as very traumatized. She is being provided with victim assistance."

Ernie Lloyd, 37, of Los Angeles, was arrested Saturday after he turned himself in to Los Angeles police in Hollywood in connection with the assault of an unidentified 25-year-old. The graphic video shows men having sex with women, many of whom appear to be disabled, with some in wheelchairs and wearing diapers.

But prosecutors said the tapes alone are not sufficient evidence, telling Sheriff's Department detectives that they need to provide more facts about the women's medical histories, level of disabilities and other information.

"In order to effect a filing, we would either have to prove that the victim did not consent to the sexual acts or she was unable to consent to the sexual acts," the district attorney's office wrote in a memo. "There is insufficient evidence to prove either of these theories beyond a reasonable doubt."

The Sheriff's Department did not directly comment on the district attorney's decision. But in a statement issued after prosecutors had turned back the case, sheriff's officials said they had gathered large amounts of evidence including an intensive interview with an alleged victim, who told them she was sexually assaulted at a residential care facility in Los Angeles.

The department said the woman specifically named Lloyd and a second suspect, Bert Hicks, as being among those who assaulted her, according to the statement. Hicks is already serving a state prison sentence.

Not enough evidence to charge suspect in attacks on disabled women, prosecutors say

Anonymous tipster who provided video of attacks on severely disabled women meets with detectives

-- Andrew Blankstein

Photos: Ernie Lloyd, known to authorities as "Suspect #1," in video still at top and after being arrested Saturday. Photo credit: L.A. County Sheriff's Department.