Employee of Woburn-Based Company Charged With Assault of 69-Year-Old Woman

A Houston, Texas man who works for a Woburn-based energy company has been charged with assault and battery on a person over aged 60 for an attack on a Lowell woman in her home, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced this week.

Darrell Bowers, 20, of Houston, was charged with assault and battery on a person over aged 60, breaking and entering in the daytime to commit a felony, assault with intent to rape, witness intimidation and malicious destruction of property.  He was arraigned Wednesday in Lowell District Court where Judge Ellen Caulo ordered him held pending a dangerousness hearing on July 30.

The defendant is an employee of Direct Energy of Woburn and went to the victim’s home to solicit electricity services, a release states. In addition, two other employees of Direct Energy were charged with illegal solicitation for selling services door-to-door without a city permit, as required by the city of Lowell.

“This is an atrocious crime where the defendant allegedly assaulted a customer in her own home while soliciting business for an energy supply company,” District Attorney Ryan said.  “By operating without proper permits from the city of Lowell, this company put residents in harms way through their inappropriate solicitation tactics.”

• Ask to see identification
• Do not feel pressured to provide any personal information
• Call the company to confirm the sales people are in the community
• Report any unwanted solicitation to local police

Police in Lowell and Woburn, where Direct Energy is based, urge residents to be cautious of unsolicited door-to-door sales and to report any suspicious or unwanted solicitation. 

It is alleged that the defendant came to the victim’s home on July 23 offering the customer the opportunity to switch energy providers to lower the cost of their energy bills, the release states. He was wearing a Direct Energy shirt and identified himself as a supplier with National Grid.

At some point during the transaction with the 69-year-old woman, she was providing information in order to change her electricity supplier.  The defendant allegedly became angry, yelled at the victim and then sexually assaulted her.  The defendant allegedly put his hand over the victim’s mouth and pushed her to the ground.   

The defendant then left the apartment.  As the victim tried to close the door, the defendant came back and allegedly knocked her down, grabbed his bag, and then left again.  The victim locked the door.  The defendant yelled to the victim that he had left his cell phone behind and when the victim refused to let him back in, the defendant allegedly kicked the door in and assaulted her as she attempted to call police.  She continued to scream for help and the defendant left the apartment.