Man arrested after rape during Stagecoach festival in Indio

[gaypalmsprings]

Man arrested after rape during Stagecoach festival in Indio

4:11 PM, May. 5, 2011
Written by Kate McGinty, The Desert Sun

A parking lot attendant who helped a woman find her car at the Stagecoach music festival then raped her, Indio police said this afternoon.

The 23-year-old woman had been searching for her car in the overflow parking lot on Avenue 50, near Hjorth Street, shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday.

A parking lot attendant offered to help her find her car, then stayed with her while she waited for her friends, Indio police spokesman Ben Guitron said.

While they were waiting, the parking lot attendant — Darin Ledale Garrett, 45, of Los Angeles — asked the woman to walk to the back of the car, then sexually assaulted her, Guitron said.

Garrett ran away when other people in the parking lot noticed the woman needed help.

The victim was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment and for social services related to the rape.

Using the witness descriptions, Indio police tracked Garrett to the Palm Tree Inn, 84-115 Indio Blvd,, where he had been staying and arrested him at about 7 a.m. Sunday.

Garrett remains in the Indio jail on three preliminary felony charges — rape, rape by use of a foreign object, and oral copulation.

Garrett, who is being held on $100,000 bail, is scheduled to appear in court May 13.

Indio police asked anyone with information about the case to call investigators at (760) 391-4057 or to anonymously call Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-7867.

[caligirlUCR]

OMG that is awful!!!! So glad he got caught!!!!!

[Janell24]

That's awful, that's why my friend and I always stick together and don't leave each other.

[unclefeiny]

it's so awful that a few @$$holes make the whole thing look bad when 99.9% of us there just want to have some good, clean, wholesome, family fun (with a little booze on the side)

[Raquellita]

I just HATE that!!! Oh there are so many things I can say, but I'm just going to pray for the healing of that girl instead.

[Chevgirl357]

I can't believe this is somebody who WORKED there. False sense of security for that poor woman, so disgusting. I hope they rape his ass repeatedly in jail.

[gaypalmsprings]

http://cmsimg.gdn.mydesert.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=J1&Date=20110506&Category=NEWS0801&ArtNo=105060321&Ref=AR&MaxW=300&Border=0

Suspect held in rape at Stagecoach music festival

10:52 PM, May. 5, 2011

Written by Kate McGinty
The Desert Sun Crime

A parking lot attendant raped a woman after he helped her find her car at the Stagecoach music festival last weekend, Indio police said Thursday.

The 23-year-old woman had been searching for her car in the overflow parking lot on Avenue 50, east of Hjorth Avenue, about 9:50 p.m. Saturday.

The attendant offered to help her find her car, then stayed with her while she waited for her friends, Indio police spokesman Ben Guitron said.

While they were waiting, the parking lot attendant — Darin Ledale Garrett, 45, of Los Angeles — asked the woman to walk toward the back of the car, where he sexually assaulted her, Guitron said.

“She was just trying to find her car,” Guitron said. “How many times do you see a parking lot attendant? You just don't think about it.”

Her attacker ran away when other people in the parking lot noticed the woman needed help.

The victim, who is also from Los Angeles, was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment and for social services related to the rape.

Using witness descriptions, Indio police tracked Garrett to the Palm Tree Inn, 84-115 Indio Blvd., where he had been staying, and arrested him about 7 a.m. Sunday.

Prosecutors filed three felony charges Wednesday against Garrett — rape, penetration by a foreign object and oral copulation by force.

Garrett, who remains in jail on $100,000 bail, pleaded not guilty to the three charges, according to court records.

His next scheduled court appearance is May 13.

It was the fifth report of rape this year in Indio, which is at least two fewer than this time last year.

There were 32 rapes reported in Indio last year, Guitron said.

There were a total of 90 rapes in the Coachella Valley in 2009, according to the most recent statistics available from the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.

Indio police reported 28 of those rapes that year.

Police ask anyone with information about Saturday's assault to call investigators at (760) 391-4057 or to anonymously call Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-7867.

Kate McGinty is a reporter for The Desert Sun. She can be reached at (760) 778-6451 or kate.mcginty@thedesertsun.com.

[Boondock47]

It figures he loos like trouble and then figures any white girl would be happy to have him stupid (*&hole The security that was hired was all on a power trip I should have filed a sexual assault on the guard saturday night when i went through the gate I was coming back the supervisor checked me then asked me about my t-shirt and the song that was playing at my tent across from the gate the guy said he has to check for weapons I pulled out my pockets he grabbed and squeezed my crotch then my butt. The supervisor told him to watch it the as he asked me another question I said come by the tent will show him the other t-shirts from the movie and the other guard said he had to check me again. then tried to grab my crotch again I pushed his hand away and he was telling me I wasnt allowed Syagecoach you need to use a different security team these people are too stupid you could have had a classaction lawsuit

[Rose]

It figures he loos like trouble and then figures any white girl would be happy to have him stupid (*&hole The security that was hired was all on a power trip I should have filed a sexual assault on the guard saturday night when i went through the gate I was coming back the supervisor checked me then asked me about my t-shirt and the song that was playing at my tent across from the gate the guy said he has to check for weapons I pulled out my pockets he grabbed and squeezed my crotch then my butt. The supervisor told him to watch it the as he asked me another question I said come by the tent will show him the other t-shirts from the movie and the other guard said he had to check me again. then tried to grab my crotch again I pushed his hand away and he was telling me I wasnt allowed Syagecoach you need to use a different security team these people are too stupid you could have had a classaction lawsuit

You should have reported ANY and all sexual assault to the Police. They need to be stopped and prosecuted. It's never just one victim and maybe they will be taken off the streets where they can't hurt others.

[gaypalmsprings]

Hearing set for man accused of raping music fest attendee

11:21 PM, Jun. 3, 2011

A preliminary hearing for a Los Angeles man accused of raping a 23-year-old female concertgoer at April's Stagecoach country music festival will take place later this month, officials said Friday.

Darin Ledale Garrett, 45, who worked as a parking lot attendant during the festival, is charged with felony rape, oral copulation by force and digital penetration, according to court records.

Indio Police Department spokesman Ben Guitron said Garrett attacked the victim about 9:50 p.m. April 30 on the opening night of the annual country music festival held at the Empire Polo Grounds.

Garrett's preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 30, when a judge will determine if there is enough evidence to order him to stand trial.

On the night of the alleged attack, Garrett offered assistance to the woman, who was looking for her car in an overflow parking lot, police said. When the two located the car, the defendant attacked her, according to Guitron.

“The parking attendant stayed with her and then asked her to walk toward the rear area of the car,” Guitron said. “At that time, the suspect sexually assaulted her and left when other people in the parking lot area noticed that she was in need of help.”

Garrett, who is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, was arrested May 1 in his motel room at Indio's Palm Tree Inn, Guitron said.

[claytucc3]

Some people are just animals. That is too bad that it happened. I don't know if it true or not, but one of the "staff" at the even said that they get into Coachella free if they work Stagecoach. It would be impossible for an even as large as Stagecoach to completely prevent all instances of crime. Just remember to always use the buddy system, especially if you are going to be drinking.

[gaypalmsprings]

Hearing pushed back in Stagecoach rape case

9:24 PM, Oct. 18, 2011

INDIO — With the defendant's attorney in trial on another case, a hearing to set a trial date for a man accused of raping a woman at the Stagecoach country music festival while working as a parking lot attendant was rescheduled Tuesday to Oct. 25.

Los Angeles resident Darin Ledale Garrett, 45, is charged with rape by force, oral copulation by force, penetration by a foreign object and sexual battery.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge William S. Lebov granted a request by Garrett's attorney, Joshua Mulligan, to reschedule the trial-setting to next week because he is in trial on another case.

In June, the 22-year-old alleged victim testified that she had become separated from her companions at the festival and Garrett helped her find her friends' car.

She said that after she thanked him, he exposed himself and asked for sexual favors.

“I was grateful to him for helping me find the car, but I told him I didn't have any interest in what he was proposing,” the Los Angeles woman testified.

The woman testified that he then pushed her to the ground, pulled down her shirt and shorts and began raping her.

The alleged April 30 attack occurred around 9:50 p.m. on the opening night of the annual country music festival at Indio's Empire Polo Grounds, according to Indio police.

Garrett, who is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, was arrested May 1 in his motel room at Indio's Palm Tree Inn.

[festivalfan]

Hey GPS... I have a great picture of you from Coachella 2011....!
nice looking guy you are!

[keebzie]

Isn't there a system security should go through to be hired on to an event this popular? I understand they need a lot of security and don't have tons of money but... I for one would not mind paying an extra 20-50 bucks to get quality protection. This is coming from a young woman but... I think women are a very key demographic attracted to this event.

I'm hoping due to this incident, stagecoach is enforcing a stricter hiring process. There usually always is an asshole who ruins it for everyone else. But that asshole should NOT be associated with the festival staff. There is no faster way to kill the positive energy that attracts so many to the festival in the first place.

[herv13]

I don't know if it true or not, but one of the "staff" at the even said that they get into Coachella free if they work Stagecoach

i ve heard that as well, that you can work one event to get tickets to the other...

I also had security staff give me a hard time before..I was in the front of the GA area and so many people were pushing forward that I kept bumping into him. Some girl behind me fell forward and I stumbled forward a bit. This dude acted like I just broke outta jail. He grabbed me and called other security for back up telling me to calm down. Wth?! i was trying to get back on my feet and they’re all up on me. I go back to my spot and the dude just keeps threatening me, telling me how he’s a marine and he just got back from Iraq or Afghanistan or wherever, and how he has no problem tackling me. it was so off putting!

And last year, we circled the polo fields for 4+ hours trying to finding tent-camping parking. And NOT ONE event staff/security knew where we were supposed to go. it was a nightmare. it seems to me they just need bodies and will take anyone willing to work..

[SPKemo]

i ve heard that as well, that you can work one event to get tickets to the other...

I'm pretty sure that I'd true. I don't know if that would be security or something else, but I defiantly have heard that.

[Cooter]

pretty sure they just did that in 2010. they did not do that this year.

[SPKemo]

Cooter always has the info. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Chevgirl357]

i ve heard that as well, that you can work one event to get tickets to the other...

I also had security staff give me a hard time before..I was in the front of the GA area and so many people were pushing forward that I kept bumping into him. Some girl behind me fell forward and I stumbled forward a bit. This dude acted like I just broke outta jail. He grabbed me and called other security for back up telling me to calm down. Wth?! i was trying to get back on my feet and they’re all up on me. I go back to my spot and the dude just keeps threatening me, telling me how he’s a marine and he just got back from Iraq or Afghanistan or wherever, and how he has no problem tackling me. it was so off putting!

And last year, we circled the polo fields for 4+ hours trying to finding tent-camping parking. And NOT ONE event staff/security knew where we were supposed to go. it was a nightmare. it seems to me they just need bodies and will take anyone willing to work..

Reason #1 why I will never sit towards the front of GA. It's so crowded and people are rude and push for space. Sitting back a little ways allows you to spread out a bit!

[herv13]

Reason #1 why I will never sit towards the front of GA. It's so crowded and people are rude and push for space. Sitting back a little ways allows you to spread out a bit!

i know, NEVER again! i was up there cause i was trying to find my friend, she was able to walk right past security and they didnt tell her anything! probably cause they were too busy looking down her shirt:rolleyes:

[gaypalmsprings]

Woman testifies that man raped her at music festival

11:35 PM, Dec. 7, 2011 |

Written by Joy Juedes, City News Service

INDIO — A woman testified Wednesday that a parking lot attendant at the Stagecoach country music festival helped her find a friend's car, then forced himself on her, pinned her to the ground and raped her last spring.

“I was still hoping to make him go away and I didn't know what I was going to do,” she said. “He pushed me down on my back on the ground; I'm pushing and telling him to stop and he just keeps telling me it's fine.”

She said she began to cry, begged him to stop and began to call for help.

“I could hear the music from the concert and just hoped someone would be coming soon,” the 23-year-old Los Angeles woman said.

She said she heard someone coming, and her attacker got up and walked away.

“I remember a woman rush up and ask if I was hurt; I was sobbing,” she said. “(I told) her that he raped me, that was all I could say.”

Darin Ledale Garrett, 46, is accused of rape, forced oral copulation, sexual penetration with a foreign object and sexual battery, stemming from the alleged April 30 attack.

If convicted, he could be sentenced to more than 20 years in prison.

The alleged rape occurred about 9:50 p.m. on the opening night of Stagecoach, which is held annually at Indio's Empire Polo Grounds.

Deputy District Attorney Brijida Rodarte told jurors in her opening statement that nurses later found bruises on the alleged victim's body, and DNA matching Garrett's was collected during the rape exam.

The woman later picked Garrett out of a photo lineup, the prosecutor said.

“You'll hear testimony that Darin Ledale Garrett was the man who raped (the woman),” Rodarte said. “There's more than enough evidence to satisfy the requirements (to convict him).”

Garrett's attorney, Joshua Mulligan, asked jurors to keep an open mind and consider all the evidence.

“There's a lot more here than the prosecution has let on,” he said in his opening statement. “Listen to everything very carefully and find him not guilty.”

Garrett was arrested a day after the alleged attack at an Indio motel.

He told police he had helped the woman by lending her his cell phone but denied having physical contact with her, according to court papers.

The woman testified that she became separated from her companions at the music festival and Garrett helped her find a friend's car.

She said she had had seven or eight drinks and was “feeling the buzz” that night.

She alleged that after she thanked Garrett, he exposed himself and did not leave when she told him she wasn't interested.

She testified that he then attacked her.

Garrett is being held at the Riverside County Jail in Indio in lieu of $100,000 bail.

[gaypalmsprings]

Man convicted of rape at Stagecoach

12:02 AM, Dec. 17, 2011
Written by Joy Juedes

INDIO — A Los Angeles man was convicted Friday of rape and other felonies for attacking a woman at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio, where he was working as a parking lot attendant.

Darin Ledale Garrett, 46, could face at least 20 years behind bars when sentenced Feb. 24.

An Indio jury deliberated for less than a day before convicting Garrett of rape by force, forced sexual penetration, sexual battery and rape and sexual penetration of an intoxicated woman in connection with the April 30 attack.

The jury reduced a charge of oral copulation by force to battery.

The woman testified in the trial last week that a parking lot attendant at the festival helped her find a friend's car, then forced himself on her, held her to the ground and raped her.

“He pushed me down on my back on the ground. I'm pushing and telling him to stop and he just keeps telling me it's fine.”

She said she began to cry, begged him to stop and began to call for help.

“I could hear the music from the concert and just hoped someone would be coming soon,” the 23-year-old Los Angeles woman said.

She said she heard someone coming, and her attacker got up and walked away.

“I remember a woman rush up and ask if I was hurt. I was sobbing,” she said.

The rape occurred about 9:50 p.m. on opening night of Stagecoach at Indio's Empire Polo Grounds.

The victim said she had seven or eight drinks and was “feeling the buzz” that night.

She thanked Garrett, he exposed himself and did not leave when she told him she wasn't interested. Then he raped her.

Deputy District Attorney Brijida Rodarte told jurors in her opening statement that nurses found bruises on the victim's body, and DNA matching Garrett's was collected during the rape exam.

The woman later picked Garrett out of a photo lineup, the prosecutor said.

Garrett was arrested the day after the attack in his room at the Palm Tree Inn.

He testified this week that he did not attack the woman, saying he lent her his cell phone, helped her find a friend's car and then left.

He said the woman seemed intoxicated when she approached him in the parking lot and asked to use his cell phone. He let her use it to call a friend, then she embraced him, he testified.

“We hugged and kissed,” he said.

He said she leaned back on the hood of someone's car, and he pulled her to her feet.

“I picked her up off that car and then we started walking toward the (friend's) vehicle,” he said. “I said, I'm going back to my (station) and we split up.”

He said he went back to her when he heard her say she found the vehicle.

Garrett testified that he told her to sit where her friends could see her.

In a videotaped interview shown in court, Garrett told Indio Police Detective Oscar Santos that he “stayed visible” that night and “didn't do nothing.”

“She said you had sex with her,” Santos said in the video, telling Garrett the woman had a physical examination.

“I didn't do none of that because I was working,” Garrett responded.

[Rose]

I vote the 20 years. Hopefully the Judge will consider that the convicted person was in a position of "trust".

[gaypalmsprings]

Man sentenced to 12 years for raping woman at Stagecoach Music Festival

12:09 PM, Feb. 24, 2012
Written by JOY JUEDES

A Los Angeles man was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for raping a woman at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio, where he was working as a parking lot attendant.

Darin Ledale Garrett, 46, was convicted Dec. 16 of rape by force, sexual battery and other charges stemming from the April 30, 2011, attack.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge David B. Downing also sentenced Garrett to three months in jail for a felony battery charge.

The victim did not attend or speak at the sentencing. Garrett spoke briefly, as did several of his family members.

"I just wanted to say to (the victim's) family that I'm very sorry," Garrett said. "I worked with the public all the time ... and this thing would never happen again."

The woman testified in the trial that a parking lot attendant at Stagecoach helped her find a friend's car, then forced himself on her, held her to the ground and raped her last spring.

"I was still hoping to make him go away and I didn't know what I was going to do," she said. "He pushed me down on my back on the ground; I'm pushing and telling him to stop and he just keeps telling me it's fine."

She said she began to cry, begged him to stop and called for help.

"I could hear the music from the concert and just hoped someone would be coming soon," said the Los Angeles woman, who is in her early 20s.

She said she heard someone coming, and her attacker got up and walked away.

"I remember a woman rush up and ask if I was hurt. I was sobbing," she said. "(I told) her that he raped me, that was all I could say."

The rape occurred around 9:50 p.m. on the opening night of Stagecoach, which is held annually at Indio's Empire Polo Grounds.

The woman testified that she became separated from her companions at the music festival and Garrett helped her find a friend's car. She said she had had seven or eight drinks and was "feeling the buzz" that night.

She said that after she thanked Garrett, he exposed himself and would not leave when she told him she wasn't interested. She testified that he pulled her shirt down, groped her, had her fellate him, pulled down her shorts and raped her.

Deputy District Attorney Brijida Rodarte told jurors in her opening statement that nurses later found bruises on the victim's body, and DNA matching Garrett's was collected during the rape exam. The woman later picked Garrett out of a photo lineup, the prosecutor said.

Garrett was arrested the day after the attack in his room at the Palm Tree Inn. He testified that he did not attack the woman but, rather, lent her his cellphone, helped her find a friend's car and then left.

He said the woman seemed intoxicated when she approached him in the parking lot at the festival and asked to use his cell phone. He let her use it to call a friend, then she embraced him, he testified.

"We hugged and kissed," he said.

He said she leaned back on the hood of someone's car, and he pulled her to her feet.

"I picked her up off that car and then we started walking toward the (friend's) vehicle," he said. "... I said, I'm going back to my (station) and we split up."

He said he went back to her when he heard her say she found the vehicle. Garrett testified that he told her to sit where her friends could see her.

In a videotaped interview shown in court, Garrett told Indio Police Detective Oscar Santos that he "stayed visible" that night and "didn't do nothing."

"She said you had sex with her," Santos said in the video, telling Garrett the woman had a physical examination.

"I didn't do none of that because I was working," Garrett responded.

[keebzie]

Only 12? God... I just dont understand how someone could do that to another person. It's sickness. And one of the saddest parts is Stagecoach will be forever ruined for the victim :(