Investigators Say Fourth Attack at Walnut Creek Apartment Complex Not Related to Earlier Attacks

Investigators are looking for a new assailant involved in a sexual attack on a young woman in the Park Regency apartment complex--the same Oak Road complex where three other young women were attacked between June and August.

Sheriff's Department spokesman Jimmy Lee said that this is a new suspect and that Thursday evening's sexual assault of a 27-year-old woman is not related in anyway to the previous attacks during a six-week period between June 30 and August 10.

For one thing, the suspect in those earlier cases, a Berkeley man,  remains in custody at the County Jail in Martinez.

Also, he is African-American, while the suspect in Thursday's attack was described as a white male. The suspects in the three previous attacks was also described as a black male. 

Lee said that about  6 p.m. the woman was opening the front door of her apartment, and she felt someone behind her. The man then forced his way in and assaulted the woman. After attacking her, the man ran off. The woman notified the sheriff's department about 40 minutes later and was taken to the hospital. Sheriff's deputies and Walnut Creek officers looked for the assailant without success. 

The suspect is described as a white male, 20 to 30 years old, 6 feet tall,  with a full beard. He was wearing jeans, a short sleeve shirt and a "hoodie" sweatshirt.

"Our investigation is continuing, and we are still trying to determine if the suspect is a stranger or is in some way acquainted with the victim," Lee said. 

Prosecutors say they have DNA linking 22, to one of the earlier attacks, a rape, on July 6.  Mouton has pleaded not guilty to one count of forcible rape, two counts of attempted forcible rape and three counts of residential burglary. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison, according to Deputy District Attorney Jon Yamaguchi.

Investigators say he is also responsible for the two other attacks that occurred  at the Park Regency Apartments in the 3100 block of Oak Road.  The 892-unit complex is in an unincorporated area of Walnut Creek north of the Pleasant Hill BART station and just off Interstate 680. 

Early in the morning June 30, a man burst his way into a woman's apartment and grabbed her. On July 6, a 23-year-old woman woke up in her apartment to find a man attacking her. She was raped.  

On August 10, a 25-year-old woman woke to find an assailant in her apartment but she reportedly fought him off by reportedly shooting him with a can of pepper spray.

At the time of the attacks, Mouton's mother was living near the apartment complex, according to members of his family. But Mouton's family also say he has been falsely accused and that he could not be responsible for those crimes because he was not in the area at the time. 

Lee said the department understands that residents are upset and unnerved by this latest attack. He said that people should always be vigilant. "Our message has always been for residents to lock their doors and windows, never open their doors for strangers and to call police if they see anyone suspicious," he said.