A jury on Monday, June 23, convicted a Del Mar man of raping two women, including one who met him at a La Jolla restaurant in 2009 and woke up being sexually assaulted in her home.
After 10 ½ hours of deliberations over three days, the eight-woman, four-man jury convicted Sean Patrick Banks, 39, of rape of an intoxicated woman in the 2009 incident.
The woman testified she last remembered being at the former Jack’s La Jolla and consuming an alcoholic drink she did not see poured. She said she woke up and found herself being raped in her own San Diego home.
The jury also convicted Banks of the rape of a 22-year-old La Mesa woman, residential burglary and two counts of digital penetration in a 2012 incident in which she met Banks using an alias on the website ChristianMingle.com.
“This defendant is a very dangerous serial date rapist and potentially a sociopath,” said the prosecutor, David Williams III, afterward.
“Sean Banks would spend weeks, if not months, grooming these victims, making them believe that he was an honest, trustworthy Christian man,” said Williams.
El Cajon Superior Court Judge Daniel Goldstein set sentencing for Sept. 5. Williams said Banks faces a maximum term of 40 years to life in prison.
Defense attorney Brian White told jurors in his closing argument that there was no physical evidence or DNA processed about either rapes. The victim from 2009 didn’t call police until hearing about the La Mesa victim. The La Mesa woman called police but waited several days.
“We’re deeply disappointed,” said defense attorney Brian White afterward. “It was a ‘he said, she said’ case. The jury has spoken, and we need to see the options available,” said White, adding he would consider making a motion for a new trial.
Banks’ parents and friends were in the courtroom. “They’re in a state of shock. It’s been very emotional for the family, the client. It’s a big blow,” said White.
“It’s very difficult to prove you didn’t do something. He’s obviously taken it very hard,” said White.
Banks remains in jail without bail. –Neal Putnam