Rohnert Park transient suspected of sexually assaulting mentally disabled man

The suspect befriended the victim at a Rohnert Park Expressway shopping center before the attack, police said.|
BILL SWINDELL
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Rohnert Park police on Thursday arrested a transient on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 44-year-old developmentally disabled man, authorities said.

Richard Wells, 53, was arrested on four criminal complaints in the incident, police said. He was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on $500,000 bail.

Wells on Wednesday had befriended the victim at a shopping center in the 600 block of Rohnert Park Expressway, police said, purchasing a soda for the man. He then went to the victim’s apartment where he assaulted him, officers said. A detective spotted Wells Thursday morning near the shopping center. He noticed Wells matched the image from a nearby business’ surveillance video captured Wednesday near the time of incident, police said.

Wells was arrested after admitting to having a sexual encounter with the man and knowing the victim was mentally disabled, police said.

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