By Jon Wiener and Nick Burr
The suspect in last week’s downtown sex assault — in which a woman at a Castro Street bar was apparently drugged, then led away and raped — is facing life in prison on charges of kidnapping and rape.
Superior Court Judge Douglas Southard refused to set bail for Saratoga resident John Lietzke, who police believe may have spiked his victim’s drink before taking her to his car and raping her.
Lietzke, 26, is facing a doubly harsh sentence because of a felony strike conviction arising from a 2002 domestic violence case. He is scheduled to enter a plea Feb. 28.
Police arrested Lietzke at a San Jose Sharks game Thursday night, three days after the alleged assault took place. According to police, a woman was at the bar alone — as of press time, they had not revealed which bar — when she left her beverage unattended and stepped away from her table.
She told police she could not remember anything that happened between the time she finished her drink and when she regained awareness hours later, finding herself in a parked car with a man on top of her who matched Lietzke’s description. The victim, whose name is being withheld, escaped, fled the area and checked herself into a hospital.
The incident has been a cause for concern with both the police and local bar operators, who met last week to discuss the incident. Bar owners already communicate with each other about problem patrons, but stressed that it’s difficult for bartenders to watch every drink, especially when its crowded.
Heather Howard, co-owner of Molly Magee’s, one of the bars on Castro Street, said she educated the staff and hired additional security since the incident.
“It was such a shock because it was such a safe community, but it really could have happened anywhere. It’s so unfortunate it happened here,” Howard said.
Police spokesperson Jim Bennett said the department is holding a class for bar owners and safety personnel in March to review preventative steps that they can take.
E-mail Jon Wiener at jwiener
