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- Man linked to two Arlington sexual assault cases sentenced to 20 years in prison. All but seven years of the sentence was suspended.
A man who attacked two women in 2015 in Arlington County, pushing them into the bushes and trying to sexually assault them, will serve seven years in prison for the attacks.
Melvin Perez-Bonilla, 19, had pleaded guilty to two counts of abduction with intent to defile. He was sentenced on Wednesday in Arlington County Circuit Court to 20 years in prison. All but seven years of the sentence was suspended.
The first attack happened July 25, 2015. Perez-Bonilla attacked a 25-year-old woman walking in the 1900 block of N. Scott Street at about 1:20 a.m., pushing her into the bushes and trying to shove his hand down her pants.
A second attack happened on September 29, 2015 on the 1200 block of N. Quincy Street near Washington-Lee High School at about 10:20 p.m. A 23-year-old woman was walking home after getting off a bus when Perez-Bonilla approached from behind, forced her into the bushes and tried to sexually assault her.
Neighbors interrupted her attack after hearing her scream.
Perez-Bonilla was caught after investigators tracked his trips with his SmarTrip card and stacked out the stops he frequently visited. He was arrested in a parking lot across the street from police headquarters.
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Police were able to connect Perez-Bonilla’s involvement in both crimes by using DNA analysis.
After his release, Perez-Bonilla will be listed on the sex offender registry. He also will be deported.
“The Special Victims Unit and Tactical Unit’s efforts and a strong partnership with the Arlington County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office have resulted in a predator being removed from the streets,” said Arlington County Deputy Chief Daniel J. Murray, Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division. “These horrible offenses and attacks on our community will be relentlessly pursued by our detectives.”
