By Lea Kahn and Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writers
A Princeton man allegedly burglarized a house on Birch Avenue early Wednesday morning, raped the female resident in her sleep and then stole some of her clothes, including undergarments, authorities said.
Pedro O. Arias-Santiago, 26, was charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault of the 28-year-old woman, second-degree burglary and theft for an offense that took place on the 200 block of Birch Avenue, according to the Princeton Police Department.
Police were called shortly after midnight by the victim, who reported that she was awakened by an intruder — later identified as Mr. Arias-Santiago, believed to have entered through an unlocked door— who was sexually assaulting her. She was able to get out of the house and called 911.
Mr. Arias-Santiago was caught by police outside the victim’s house. He had several articles of her clothing when he was apprehended, police alleged. Police spokesman Lt. Jon Bucchere said Wednesday that there is “no reason” to believe he and the victim know each other.
He was taken to the Mercer County Correction Center on $200,000 bail, without the 10-percent option.
Casey A. DeBlasio, a spokeswoman for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, said Wednesday that Mr. Arias-Santiago likely would have a bail hearing sometime next week. No court date has been scheduled.
Since his capture, details have begun to emerge about Mr. Arias-Santiago, who was arrested on his 26th birthday. Originally from Guatemala, he has been living in an apartment on Leigh Avenue for the past three months, according to his landlord on Wednesday. His brother also lives there, the landlord said.
Princeton Councilwoman Heather H. Howard, also the town’s police commissioner, said Wednesday that Mr. Arias-Santiago is in the country illegally. Police contacted federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement, per a New Jersey Attorney General guideline involving illegal immigrants caught committing serious offenses.
Lt. Bucchere said Mr. Arias-Santiago is a day laborer “with no employer.”
