Police said 18-year-old Shudon Watkins talked briefly with an elderly woman at a senior citizen apartment complex on Sunday, and told the victim he had been kicked out of his house. The victim offered Watkins something to drink and referred him to a local shelter, then re-entered her apartment.
At 9:15 p.m. Sunday, Watkins allegedly knocked on the victim's door and said he wanted the phone number to the shelter. The victim opened the door slightly and Watkins forced his way into the apartment. Police said he physically and sexually assaulted the victim, and then stole her purse as he fled the apartment.
The victim sustained injuries from the attack and was later taken to the hospital for treatment. She has since been released from the hospital.
Police said surveillance footage led them to Watkins, who lives across the street from the complex, located on the 1000 block of South Gilbert Street.
Detectives suspect that Watkins was responsible for at least one other recent attempted residential robbery.
Watkins was being held at Riverside County Jail. Bail was set at $1 million.
