A door-to-door salesman from Houston is being held without bail after allegedly sexually assaulting a 69-year-old woman in her Lowell home, prosecutors said.
Darrell Bowers, 20, was trying to sell the victim electricity services Tuesday when he became irate and sexually assaulted the woman, the Middlesex district attorney’s office said in a statement.
“This is an atrocious crime where the defendant allegedly assaulted a customer in her own home while soliciting business for an energy supply company,” District Attorney Marian T. Ryan said.
According to prosecutors, Bowers returned twice to the victim’s apartment after he initially left.
First, as the woman tried to shut the door, Bowers allegedly pushed it open and knocked her over as he tried to retrieve his bag. The second time, prosecutors said, he kicked in the door after the victim locked it because he forgot his cellphone.
After breaking into the apartment to recover his phone, Bowers allegedly assaulted the victim again as she tried to call police, the district attorney’s office said.
Bowers was working for Houston-based Direct Energy out of its Woburn office and did not have a permit to solicit services in Lowell, Ryan’s office said. Direct Energy could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
“By operating without proper permits from the city of Lowell, this company put residents in harm’s way through their inappropriate solicitation tactics,” Ryan said.
According to Ryan’s office, two other Direct Energy employees, who were not identified, were charged with door-to-door solicitation without a permit.
Charges against Bowers include assault and battery on a person over 60 and assault with intent to rape. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Lowell District Court Wednesday, and he will be back in court for a dangerousness hearing Tuesday.
Prosecutors said they will investigate Direct Energy’s sales practices.
Nicholas Jacques can be reached at nicholas.jacques@
globe.com.