Accused killer, serial rapist to stand trial

An Orange County man will stand trial Wednesday on charges that he sexually assaulted and killed one woman and assaulted five others, including one in a Costa Mesa motel room, prosecutors said.

Waymon Livingston, 29, of Stanton, faces the death penalty if convicted of murder during the commission of sodomy, four felony counts of forcible rape and one felony count of aggravated assault, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.

In all, there are six victims, the D.A. said in a news release.

Livingston sodomized and killed a prostitute from Sacramento in an Anaheim motel room in September 2007, the D.A. said, citing DNA and forensic evidence that allegedly links him to the crime.

He also stands accused of sexually assaulting and attempting to strangle a prostitute in an Anaheim parking lot in 2005, raping a motel housekeeper in Stanton in 2006, and, in 2007, raping and attempting to strangle a masseuse in a Costa Mesa motel room, physically assaulting a prostitute in an Irvine hotel, and raping and attempting to strangle a woman in a Fullerton hotel.

Opening statements are expected Wednesday. If convicted, a jury will decide whether Livingston will receive the death penalty.

— Lauren Williams

Twitter: @lawilliams30