MESA, AZ — Mesa police report that DNA evidence left by a suspect helped them arrest a 31-year-old man allegedly involved in a 2018 sex assault.
Mesa police say that on Wednesday, June 26, they arrested Jonathon Perez, 31, at his Mesa home for a sexual assault that occurred in July 2018.
According to court documents, the woman who was allegedly sexually assaulted by Perez had left a Mesa bar in a ride-share vehicle after celebrating a wedding anniversary with her friends.
When the ride-share driver took the woman home, he noticed two men a few houses down from her home. The driver was concerned for the woman's safety due to her being "extremely intoxicated" and the men allegedly offering her beer.
The driver reportedly pleaded with the woman, asking to take her back to the bar so she could be with her friends. The woman refused, according to court documents.
Despite the woman's refusal to be taken back to the bar, the driver independently returned to the bar, found the woman's friends, and brought them back to the her home.
When they arrived, they allegedly found Perez sexually assaulting the victim.
When the group yelled at Perez, he allegedly stood up, walked away and said, "I'm sorry, I'm drunk" as he walked past a witness, court documents show.
Police say DNA evidence, including a beer can, linked Perez to the crime.
If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic or sexual violence, there are several local and national organizations offering resources. Anyone in need of immediate assistance should contact either the Maricopa County Shelter Line at 480-890-3039, the National 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence at 602-279-2900. A number of organizations are available 24 hours a day for anyone at risk of experiencing domestic or sexual violence. See a directory of domestic violence programs here.
