Man accused of raping a paralyzed woman during an early morning home invasion

CONCORD – Nearly 24 years to the day after a local resident was sexually assaulted while sleeping in her home, a suspect has been arrested and charged, authorities announced Monday.

Michael Lamonte Evans, a Los Angeles County resident, was charged Monday with forcible rape and rape of an unconscious person, both felonies, in connection with the attack on a woman on December 9, 2000. The victim was paralyzed from the neck down and could not fighting back against her attacker, who struck in the early hours of the morning as she lay in bed sleeping.

Evans, 49, was arrested in late October for allegedly violating his parole in Los Angeles. He has had numerous arrests, including a conviction for indecent exposure that required him to register as a sex offender. These arrests occurred after the rape, authorities said.

The victim has now died, but reported the incident to the police at the time. Investigators recovered DNA evidence from a rape test kit linked to Evans, authorities said.

Authorities say they pursued further investigative techniques in addition to the DNA — but have not yet revealed what species — that led to criminal charges against Evans on Monday.

Evans remains in custody at a Los Angeles County jail. He will soon be extradited to the Bay Area, but his first court appearance has not yet been set, records show. When he appears in Contra Costa, he will tentatively appear before Judge Patricia Scanlon, records show.