Man charged in sexual assault of 72-year-old woman

June 21, 2008, 6:10PM
Man charged in sexual assault of 72-year-old woman



By BILL MURPHY
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

A 28-year-old illegal immigrant will appear in court Monday to face a charge that he raped a 72-year-old woman while burglarizing her north Harris County home earlier this week, officials with the sheriff's department said.

The woman was repairing a chair about 3 p.m. when the suspect, identified as David William Ponce-Rivera of Mexico surprised her, dragged her into a hallway and raped her, said Lt. Ruben Diaz of the sheriff's department interpersonal violence division.

Ponce-Rivera was living temporarily next door to the woman's home in what the sheriff's department thinks is a drop-off for Mexican coyotes - those who specialize in arranging transportation for undocumented immigrants, Diaz said.

The home next to the home where the woman lived by herself also serves as a makeshift warehouse for construction material. Illegal immigrants dropped off by coyotes usually stay there for short periods before finding construction jobs and moving into apartments, he said.

"She had seen him trying to get into her house the day before, but she didn't call police,'' Diaz said.

Ponce-Rivera was charged with burglary of a residence with intent to commit another felony, sexual assault. He wasn't charged with aggravated sexual assault because burglary of a residence with intent to commit another felony is easier to prove and can lead to equally long sentence, Diaz said.

"It was the middle of the day, and she was out on the patio repairing a chair,'' Diaz said. ``When she went in to get a tool, he was already inside her home.''

Ponce-Rivera forced her into a hallway, took her clothes off and raped her on the floor, Diaz said.

The woman was treated and discharged from the hospital. DNA evidence will form part of the case against Ponce-Rivera, Diaz said.

Detectives searched the coyote drop-off home Wednesday after the victim told them that her assailant was staying there. They didn't find Ponce-Rivera.

During a second search about 9 p.m. Wednesday, Ponce-Rivera was found hiding underneath a mattress, Diaz said.

The woman, he said, identified him out of a photo line-up.

"She picked him out straight off,'' he said. "She identified him right off the bat.''

Ponce-Rivera was being held with no opportunity to post a bond.

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