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A man has been convicted of 14 felonies related to a sexual assault and burglary reported on Menlo Park’s 1100 block of Ringwood Avenue in 2017. Courtesy Google Maps.
A man who robbed a home and sexually assaulted a senior victim in Menlo Park has been found guilty by a jury of 14 felony charges, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
Current and former Menlo Park police officers testified in the trial about their investigations of the crime, which occurred at a home on the 1100 block of Ringwood Avenue in Menlo Park, according to the Menlo Park Police Department.
On Aug. 11, 2017, Lamar Dekari Stevens, a 40-year-old from San Jose, entered a Menlo Park home through an unlocked window, according to prosecutors. Stevens then covered the mouth of a 65-year-old male victim, held a knife to his throat and demanded money, according to prosecutors.
After the victim provided Stevens with $40, he sexually assaulted the victim and demanded his car keys and credit cards, according to prosecutors.
The victim escaped to a neighbor’s home and called police, who responded quickly and saw the suspect running toward the pedestrian foot bridge over U.S. 101. Police released a canine officer and the suspect jumped to the ground, falling about 30 feet and breaking an ankle, according to prosecutors.
He remains in custody on no-bail status; his previous bail had been set at $8 million, according to prosecutors.
“The Menlo Park Police Department is grateful to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office for their dogged pursuit of justice in this heinous crime. I am extraordinarily proud of all the MPPD personnel who contributed to the successful outcome of this jury trial as are the rest of our department members,” said Menlo Park Police Chief Dave Norris.
“Our primary goal is the peace and safety of our public, and when crimes such as these occur we are dedicated to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable for their reprehensible actions.”
The case is scheduled to continue at 2 p.m. on Oct. 12 for a trial regarding Stevens’ prior convictions and to set a date for when the sentence will be imposed.