One suspect sexually assaulted the woman at knifepoint before he and another suspect stole cash and fled.
Detectives interviewed the victim Wednesday at the home and at the Santa Ana Police Dept. to try to identify the two suspects in the case. They were also trying to determine if the recent attack is connected to an alleged sexual assault on the woman's daughter in 2010 at the same home.
The two suspects are described as two men in their 20s wearing dark-colored clothing. At least one of them was wearing a black-and-white bandana covering his face.
Police allege one suspect cut the window screen to get into the home of a 26-year-old woman asleep on the couch around 4 a.m.
"He strikes her several times in the face, appears she has some defensive wounds. It appears he may have used the knife in that effort," said Santa Ana Police Corporal Anthony Bertagna.
Police say the Santa Ana woman suffered cuts and bruises during what started as a suspected burglary and became an attempted sexual assault.
"He's trying to use one hand to remove her clothes, she's struggling. That's when she notices the second suspect who's out on the porch," said Bertagna.
Investigators allege the second suspect says something and the first suspect releases the victim. The two grab money off the coffee table before leaving. The woman's year-old daughter asleep in a bedroom was not injured.
The little girl is an alleged victim of a crime last year at the same home. Last October, police arrested Pinkney Badgett, who lived in the apartment behind the house, after receiving a tip. Badgett is now in custody facing numerous charges including sexual assault.
"When we served the search warrant we found multiple boxes of child pornography and evidence that related him to multiple crimes in different counties ranging from Riverside to San Diego County as well as here in Orange County," said Bertagna.
Police say they did investigate whether there is a connection between Tuesday's attack and Badgett's case. Badgett is expected to be in court for a preliminary hearing next week.
Police say the two incidents do not appear to be related.
Police remind residents to keep doors and windows locked.
Anyone with information related to the case should contact Santa Ana Police at (714) 245-8400.
