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Man Accused of Attacking Elderly Woman

Posted: 11:03 AM Apr 13, 2012
Reporter: Staff

RENO, NV - A Reno man is charged with sexually assaulting an elderly woman early Friday morning.

Police say shortly after 3:30AM, they were called to the 700 block of Belli Drive after being called about a suspicious person knocking on doors telling occupants he had their wallets. Officers arrived in the area and saw a man leaving one of the residences, pulling his pants up. As an officer was talking to the man, police got a report of a sexual assault having just occurred at that same house.

The elderly woman reported she heard a knock on the door and a man saying he had her wallet. She partially opened her door, which had a security chain, and the man forced his way in and assaulted her. She was taken to a local hospital and is being treated for her injuries, which are not life-threatening.

Richard Sharks was arrested for home invasion, sexual assault, battery, and crimes against the eldery. Sharks is a Tier 3 sex offender with convictions stretching to 1988 for Battery with the Intent to Commit Sexual Assault and Open and Gross Lewdness. He has four prior convictions for Sex Offender Failing to Register, Change Address or Provide False Information. He was released from Nevada Department of Corrections in November 2011 after completing a sentence for Sex Offender Failure to Complete Annual Verification.

He is being held with no bail.