A Gardena man was ordered to stand trial today for the alleged rape and murder of a woman and the rape of three other women, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

Kevon Takashi Ross (dob 11/25/84) was held to answer on 25 felony counts: one count each of murder, sodomy of an unconscious victim and forcible sodomy, seven counts each of rape of an unconscious person and forcible rape, six counts of sexual penetration by foreign object and two counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend.

Deputy District Attorney Frank Dunnick said the charges include the allegation that the defendant caused great bodily injury in case YA093449.

Arraignment is scheduled on Nov. 16 in Department O of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Inglewood Branch.

According to testimony at the preliminary hearing, Ross sexually assaulted and asphyxiated a woman at a Gardena hotel on Dec. 12, 2015. Additionally, the defendant sexually assaulted a girlfriend in October 2007, the prosecutor said. Two other women also were raped by Ross between June and November 2015, one of them in Riverside County, according to testimony at the preliminary hearing.

Bail is set at $3 million. If convicted as charged, Ross faces more than 300 years to life in state prison.

The case remains under investigation by the Gardena Police Department

Los Angeles County District Attorney / case YA093449  / November 2, 2016