Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Lakshya Yadav, 18, was arrested yesterday after allegedly undressing an acquaintance, sexually touching her, biting her when she told him to stop and forcing his genitals into her mouth.
According to an Alachua County Sheriff’s deputy’s report, the victim first met Yadav “randomly” on Snapchat in September, when he added her as a friend. She said they met in person twice before the alleged assault. On both occasions, he picked her up from work and drove her to her apartment, where they talked, watched television and spent time together. The woman said she believed they had become friends, although she did not know his real name and referred to him as “Lux.”
The victim said she communicated with Yadav throughout the day on September 18. She knew he was drinking while spending time with friends, and said he made a sexual remark that “made her feel weird.” Their conversation then stopped for several hours.
At approximately 2 a.m. on September 19, Yadav reportedly told her he wanted to come to her apartment. She replied, “No.” He allegedly said he was only 10 minutes away and would stop by, but she again told him she did not want him to come over.
A few minutes later, Yadav reportedly arrived at the apartment. The victim said he appeared to be clearly intoxicated, and she let him inside because she was concerned he might drive and wanted to help him sober up.
The victim told deputies that she and Yadav went into her bedroom, where he lay on the bed and suggested they watch a movie. After a short time, he allegedly told her to turn it off and play music instead. She said Yadav climbed on top of her and began kissing her. She tried to make him stop, but he would not, and the encounter then “escalated,” according to her statement.
She said Yadav put his hand inside her shorts. After she removed it, he allegedly did the same thing again. He then reportedly tried to pull her shorts down. Although she repeatedly pulled them back up, he eventually removed them. The victim said she told him, “Please, Lux, no. I don’t want to.”
The victim said she used one hand to cover herself while trying to push Yadav away. She believed his genitals came into contact with hers after he removed his pants and boxers. She also alleged that he bit her breast.
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According to the victim, Yadav eventually stopped but then grabbed the back of her head and forced his genitals into her mouth. She struck his hand away and moved away from him. When she picked up her shorts, Yadav allegedly snatched them from her, ripping off two artificial fingernails. He reportedly left the apartment afterward.
A forensics team went to the apartment after the report was made. An investigator photographed a discoloration on the victim’s breast that could have been bruising, and two of her artificial fingernails remained broken.
The victim had only Yadav’s nickname, his Instagram account name and a description of his vehicle: a blue Tesla.
Automated license plate readers detected a blue Tesla leaving the victim’s apartment complex on the night of the alleged incident. The vehicle’s registered owner, who lives in St. Johns County, is believed to be related to Yadav. Yadav’s listed address is also in St. Johns. The victim later identified him in a photo lineup.
On October 14, deputies contacted Yadav near his University of Florida dormitory. He was interviewed at Alachua County Sheriff’s Office headquarters. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Yadav reportedly said he knew a woman who lived at the victim’s apartment complex but did not know her name. He then requested an attorney.
Yadav was charged with sexual battery. His criminal history was unavailable because records involving sexual offenses are not public. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail while awaiting a hearing on the State Attorney’s Office’s request to keep him jailed without bail through trial. If the judge rejects that request, bail will be determined at the hearing.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
