LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – Rashid Byrd, a former professional basketball player and actor, has been convicted and sentenced to 90 years to life in prison. The sentencing, which took place on March 1, comes after Byrd was found guilty of committing violent sexual assaults in Los Angeles and Santa Clara Counties between 2015 and 2020. This case was spearheaded by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division’s Special Assault Section, which began its investigation in 2019 following a report from one of the victims.
Byrd’s criminal history includes a conviction for sexual assault in 2010 and an arrest in 2005 in Washington State for a similar offense. Victims described Byrd as using his charm and status to manipulate them before assaulting them. Detective Dara Brown, the lead investigator, highlighted the drastic change in Byrd’s behavior from charm to violence. Byrd was arrested on September 18, 2020, with bail set at $4,150,000, and has been in custody since.
The LAPD has expressed its gratitude towards the courageous women who came forward, contributing significantly to the investigation’s success and ensuring Byrd’s conviction.