LADA believes there may be additional victims
October 16, 2025 – LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged 30-year-old 
Sizhe Weng, also known as Steven Weng, with drugging and raping multiple women between 2021 and 2024 while enrolled as a doctoral student at the University of Southern California.
“No one should ever have to endure the trauma of being drugged, sexually assaulted and stripped of their ability to consent,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “Prosecutors in my office’s Sex Crimes Division and our law enforcement partners will not rest until the defendant is held accountable for these horrific acts. We want every victim to know that their voices matter and we will fight to ensure you are heard. We urge additional victims, whether you live locally or abroad, to contact the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division to report any suspected crimes.”
Weng (30) is charged in case 25CJCF05617 with one felony count of forcible rape; two felony counts of sodomy by controlled substance or anesthesia; one felony count of rape by controlled substance; and four felony counts of sexual penetration by controlled substance or anesthesia.
He is accused of raping three women after placing incapacitating drugs in their food and/or drinks.
Weng was arraigned on September 2 and pleaded not guilty to all charges. The Court granted the prosecutors’ request to hold him without bail.
A preliminary hearing setting is scheduled for January 14, 2026, in Department 31 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
If convicted as charged, Weng faces 25 years to life plus 56 years in California state prison. He would be required to register as a sex offender for life.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Catherine Mariano of the Sex Crimes Division and remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Any additional victims are urged to contact the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division at (213) 486-6890.
The charges filed in this case are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Source & photo: Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
