Sonoma County Hells Angels member jailed in suspected sexual assault

A man with longstanding connections to the Hells Angels motorcycle club of Sonoma County was jailed on $1 million bail on suspicion of violently sexually assaulting the wife of a member being ousted from the gang, Sonoma County sheriff’s officials said.

Raymond Foakes, 53, of Rohnert Park was arrested on suspicion of seven felonies, including sexual penetration by means of force or fear, oral copulation against the victim’s will and sexually touching a person who is unlawfully restrained among other crimes, including victim intimidation and stalking, jail records show said.

The allegations also include a felony charge of committing a crime for the benefit of a gang.

“Foakes is a well-documented longtime Hells Angels gang member with a history of violent crime,” Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

The reported assault occurred late Saturday, just five weeks after Foakes was released from a federal prison in Mendota near Fresno, according to federal records.

Foakes, a former president of the Hells Angels Sonoma County chapter, served a three-year term for his role in a multimillion dollar mortgage fraud scheme to buy up housing and grow marijuana. He was released Oct. 21 on federal probation.

The incident began about 11 p.m. Saturday when the woman - a 49-year-old Santa Rosa resident - received a call from Foakes, who asked to meet her at the Hells Angels clubhouse on Frazier Avenue in Santa Rosa, Crum said.

The woman said she was concerned for her husband’s safety so she drove to the club. Foakes ordered her to get back into her car and he got behind the wheel, sheriff’s officials said.

Foakes drove the woman to a secluded area off Bennett Valley Road and parked. There, he attacked the woman in a violent sexual assault and threatened to hurt her and her husband if she didn’t comply, Crum said.

Foakes then drove the woman back to the clubhouse and left her in her vehicle, investigators said.

She reported the assault Sunday. Due to Foakes’ criminal history, detectives enlisted the SWAT team and helicopter crew to look for Foakes at his home on the 7500 block of Monet Place in Rohnert Park about 6:30 p.m. Monday. He wasn’t there.

While the search of his home was underway, another group of detectives found Foakes at a meeting being held at Airway Drive in Santa Rosa. Crum declined to specify the nature of the meeting. Crum said that the woman’s husband has been located - “he is alive.”

He declined to discuss more about the man’s status or well-being and said it is currently under investigation. The woman “is taking all necessary precautions to maintain her safety,” Crum said.

Foakes’ first court appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Sonoma County Superior Court Department 9.