A man convicted in 1998 of killing a woman in Lancaster has been charged with sexually assaulting and raping another woman in Lancaster, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced today.

Leonard Earl Bales (dob 12/22/68) of Palmdale, faces one count each of forcible oral copulation; kidnapping to commit forcible oral copulation; attempted willful, deliberate and premeditated murder; criminal threats; assault with a deadly weapon, belt; false imprisonment by violence and assault with intent to commit rape, sodomy, oral copulation.

Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami said case MA067063 includes allegations of kidnap, tying, binding, great bodily injury and two or more serious or violent felony convictions.

The criminal complaint also includes allegations of prior prison cases including MA012065, a 1998 conviction for voluntary manslaughter for which Bales was sentenced to 18 years in state prison.

Other priors named on the complaint are for assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury and first-degree burglary, both in 1994.

Bales is scheduled for arraignment this afternoon in Department A1 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Antelope Valley Branch.

On Sept. 26, the defendant allegedly took a woman to a vacant house in Quartz Hill where he choked, dragged and sexually assaulted the 35-year-old victim, the prosecutor said. The woman managed to escape the home without any clothes on and get a neighbor to shelter her and call police, the prosecutor added.

Bail has been set at more than $3.8 million.

If convicted as charged, Bales faces a possible maximum sentence of life in state prison.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Lancaster Station.

Los Angeles County District Attorney / case MA067063 / October 15, 2015