Watch CBS News

Suspect Arrested In Rohnert Park Sexual Assault Of Disabled Woman

ROHNERT PARK (CBS SF) -- The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Thursday arrested a transient on suspicion of sexually assaulting a developmentally disabled woman in an apartment Tuesday.

Richard Wells, 53, was arrested around 9:30 a.m. while standing near a van in a parking lot at 587 Rohnert Park Expressway, Sgt. Jeff Justice said.

Wells met the 44-year-old disabled woman around 8 p.m. Tuesday at a shopping center in the 600 block of Rohnert Park Expressway and followed her back to her apartment in the 700 block of Laguna Drive where the assault took place, Justice said.

The victim identified Wells as the suspect, and Wells was arrested Thursday on suspicion of sodomy and oral copulation of a person incapable of giving consent, penetration with a foreign object and burglary with intent to commit a felony, Justice said.

The victim notified her caregiver about the assault and public safety officers were then notified on Wednesday, Justice said.

Wells was booked into Sonoma County Jail under $500,000 bail.

Justice said Wells has previous arrests for narcotics and lewd conduct, and he was living in shelters and in a van.

TM and © Copyright 2017 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.