Calgary police lay charges in sexual assault cold case

More than two decades after a masked man sexually assaulted a Calgary woman in her home, police say they have made an arrest, in part with the help of DNA testing.

Police announced Monday that they had charged James Alexander Parent, 50, with sexual assault with a weapon, along with several other offences.

The case dates back to April 6, 1987, when a masked man rang a doorbell in the southwest neighbourhood of Kelvin Grove at around 10 p.m. Whena 30-year-oldwoman opened the door, the man forced his way inside, ransacked the home and sexually assaulted her, police said.

"Before leaving the home, the man threatened to kill the victim with a weapon and warned her not to call the police. The victim, who sustained trauma to the head, ignored the offender's threats and called 911," police said in a news release.

DNA testing and other investigative techniques led to an arrest on Friday, police said.

"Our investigators have contacted the victim, and she is very satisfied very relieved with the response that we've been able to bring this to closure," said Staff Sgt. Curtis Olson of the sex crimes unit.

Parent, a Calgary resident, is known to travel extensively throughout Alberta because he worked in the construction industry, said police.

He has been charged with sexual assault with a weapon, sexual assault causing bodily harm, wearing a disguise, unlawful confinement, residential breaking and entering, uttering threats to cause death, and mischief.

In December 1988, Parent was acquitted of 10 charges in connection with the sexual assaults of seven women in Edmonton from October 1986 to August 1987.

At the trial, none of the victims could identify their attacker because he wore a mask and covered their heads with blankets.

However,Parent was convicted of one charge of breaking and entering with the intent to commit an indictable offence and was sentenced to 3 years.

At the time, he had a previous criminal record of child molestation, indecent assault and attempted unlawful confinement.

Parent is scheduled to appear in Calgary provincial court on Wednesday.