SOLANA BEACH — A Solana Beach man was jailed on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 75-year-old woman after talking his way into her 4S Ranch-area home, authorities reported.
Deputies arrested Tony Choi, 52, at his Manzanillo Court residence shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
About eight hours earlier, Choi, a local dog groomer, allegedly showed up uninvited at the septuagenarian’s home in the 7000 block of Carmel Valley Road, near Solterra Vista Parkway, and asked her if her dogs needed to be washed, Sgt. Marcello Orsini said.
The two struck up a conversation, and the woman invited Choi into her residence, according to sheriff’s officials. Once inside, the suspect allegedly began sexually assaulting her, Orsini said.
The alleged assault ended when the resident’s caretaker walked into the room, at which point Choi left the home, got into a car parked nearby and drove off.
The suspect was driving the same vehicle that evening when he arrived home to find deputies waiting to take him into custody, Orsini said.
Choi was booked into county jail in Vista on suspicion of sexual assault and elder abuse. Choi is currently free on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court for a Nov. 8 arraignment.
According to CBS8, multiple dog grooming clients alleged Choi injured and traumatized their pets in 2022. However, animal control has been unable to bring charges against him.
