Hatboro man faces charges in sex assault of woman, 74

By Cheryl McEvoy

Inquirer Staff Writer

A Hatboro man was charged yesterday with sexually assaulting a 74-year-old woman and harassing two other women in the borough last week.

Enrique Santacruz Perez, 38, was arrested after a lab test matched a DNA sample from Perez to evidence gathered at the scene, Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor said.

Perez had voluntarily provided an oral swab Sept. 19 while police were canvassing the Robert Bruce Apartments, where he lives.

Castor attributed the Tuesday afternoon arrest to the quick turnaround of DNA evidence and "outstanding cooperation" from the community.

Wearing work clothes and construction boots at his arraignment, Perez told Hatboro District Judge Paul N. Leo that he worked full time as a landscaper in Warminster. Originally from Mexico, he lived in the area illegally two years ago, went back to Mexico, then returned after obtaining a work visa, officials said. He has lived legally in Hatboro since March.

Leo ordered Perez held without bail.

The assault victim was in her kitchen on West Lehman Avenue around 3 a.m., drinking coffee and about to prepare a bowl of ice cream, when the attacker entered her home and dragged her out the back door, police said.

The man assaulted the woman before dragging her back to the house and throwing her on the floor.

Castor said the victim was "exceedingly frail," yet managed to provide a description of her attacker.

"This is a remarkable woman," he said.

Police said Perez had admitted the assault. He did not yet have a defense attorney. He told Leo that he wanted to speak to a representative from the Mexican consulate.

Earlier on the night of the attack, police said, Perez followed a bartender at the Stroker Roadhouse, on Jacksonville Road, out to her car and tried to enter the vehicle.

Police said Perez also had admitted writing on a vestibule wall outside another woman's apartment at 2:45 a.m.

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