Man Charged For Raping Alexandria Lifeguard At Pool: Officials

ALEXANDRIA, VA—A man has been charged for the rape of a lifeguard at an Alexandria pool in 2016.

Jesse Bjerke, 37, of Arlington, was charged in relation to the alleged sexual assault at a condominium complex's pool on Sept. 3, 2016. The complex is located in the 200 block of South Pickett Street. The victim was a lifeguard and did not know Bjerke.

The victim told police at the time she'd been abducted and raped by an unknown person. The man approached when no one else was at the pool, brandished a gun and raped the victim, police said. The victim called for help after the man fled.

Bjerke was charged with six felonies: rape, object sexual penetration, abduction with the intent to defile and three counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The rape, object sexual penetration, abduction charges have a maximum sentence of life in prison. The firearms charges have a total mandatory minimum sentence of 13 years in prison.

Bjerke is being held at the Alexandria Adult Detention Center awaiting trial.

Image via Renee Schiavone/Patch