Suspect denies intern’s slaying

A San Diego man pleaded not guilty to the murder and sexual assault of Dane Williams Tuesday, almost two years after the Huntington Beach resident went missing for three days and was found dead.

Philong Huynh, 39, was charged with one count of murder and one count of sexual assault for allegedly drugging and raping Williams. He was charged with an additional count of sexual assault for a separate case. Huynh was arrested by the San Diego Police Department on Sept. 10.

The second sexual assault case helped shed light on Williams’ death, police said.

Williams went missing Jan. 26, 2008, after leaving a nightclub in San Diego’s Gaslight district. Authorities found the 23-year-old’s body three days later in a neighborhood alley three miles away. After the initial coroner’s report, authorities found DNA evidence of an unidentified person.

A DNA link to the second sexual assault was found Aug. 19, said San Diego Police Department Lt. Kevin Rooney. The second victim lived.

Both victims were allegedly abducted in San Diego’s Gaslight district, Rooney said.

Through the cooperation of the second victim and the work of the police department, authorities were able to identify Huynh, Rooney said.

The police obtained search warrants for two of Huynh’s residences — his official residence, where he appeared not to live, and his real home only 800 feet from the place Williams’ body was apparently dumped, Rooney said.

Huynh is being held in the San Diego Central Jail for $500,000 bail.

He is scheduled to go back to court 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Central Division Court 12 in San Diego.

Williams’ family declined to comment on the case.

The night Williams disappeared, he was in San Diego for a convention with Hurley International, where he was a marketing intern.

After the convention, Williams went to the Hard Rock Cafe, where he was last seen leaving at 2 a.m.

A surveillance video showed Williams walking erratically as he left that night, Rooney said.

The toxicology report showed Williams’ blood alcohol level was more than twice what is legally considered intoxicated.

The report also found trace amounts of quinine, which is found in tonic water, and diazepam, or Valium.

Authorities believe Huynh used the diazepam to drug Williams, Rooney said.

Timeline

Past: Huntington Beach resident Dane Williams was found dead after going missing for three days in San Diego almost two years ago.

Present: A San Diego man was arraigned for the murder and sexual assault of Williams on Sept. 10.

Future: Philong Huynh is expected to go back to court 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Central Division Court 12 in San Diego.