Nabbed: Man Accused Of Rape, Robbery, Charged After Manhunt

DENVER, CO – After a multi-state manhunt, charges were filed against a Denver man accused of accused of sexually assaulting and robbing a woman in her home in a mid-day attack, the Denver District Attorney's Office said.

Jerome Lekendric Lucas, 34, who, police said, was notable for distinctive face and neck tattoos, was nabbed by U.S. Marshals and Portland, Oregon Police on April 24, the DA's office said. He was extradited back to Denver to be charged. He had been on the run for a month with a reward of $5,000 offered for his capture.

Prosecutors said Tuesday that Lucas was charged with two counts of sexual assault, second-degree kidnapping, first degree burglary and assault. He has been held in the Denver County jail since his arrest on $500,000 bond.

Police said the victim returned to her home in Denver from the gym on Sunday, March 24 around noon. After taking a shower, she took the recycling out around 1:20 p.m., leaving her door open, but her screen door closed. Prosecutors alleged that Lucas entered the home,"rushed her and punched her in the head several times causing her to fall to the ground." He demanded money and jewelry, then "tied her up, gagged her, and raped her," prosecutors allege. He barricaded her front door with a couch, then stole her car and left, police said.

The woman escaped to a neighbor's house and called 911. She was taken to a hospital, where a a rape evidence kit was acquired and a DNA profile was found to "hit" on the CODIS website with a match to Lucas, the DA's office said.

Police in April announced that a private donor had kicked in $5,000 for a Crime Stoppers reward to find Lucas, who had criminal history including theft, assault, burglary, drug and weapons possession, and car theft, they said.

"The nature of this crime [including] burglary and sex assault on a Sunday afternoon in broad daylight, is not anything I have been a part of in my 16-year career," said Detective Lang of the Denver Police Sex Crimes Unit at an April 12 news conference. "We need to get him off the streets. He is a danger to the community."

It was unclear whether a tip to Crime Stoppers led to Lucas's arrest in Portland.

Related: Reward Upped To $5,000 For Wanted Sex-Assault Suspect