Door to Door Salesman Sentenced for Assault on Lowell Woman
LOWELL – A Houston, Texas man working as a door-to-door salesman was sentenced to one year in jail for assaulting a Lowell woman in her home, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan informed the public today.
Darrell Bowers, 20, of Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Lowell District Court to charges of assault and battery on a person over aged 60, intimidation of a witness, breaking and entering in the daytime, vandalizing property, and peddling without a license and a violation of a city ordinance.
Through an agreed upon sentence, Lowell District Court Judge Ellen Caulo sentenced the defendant to one year in the house of correction with three years probation from and after the jail sentence. Conditions of probation are that the defendant undergo mental health evaluation and follow up treatment, sex offender evaluation and follow up treatment, and that he stays away and have no contact with the victim.
The defendant was working as an employee of Direct Energy of Woburn and went to the victim’s home to solicit electricity services. The company was operating without the appropriate permits from the city of Lowell.
“This defendant was soliciting in a Lowell neighborhood without the proper permits when he assaulted an elderly woman in her own home,” District Attorney Ryan said. “We continue to work closely with local police to make sure that all solicitors are properly permitted as well as educate seniors on how to stay safe in their homes. Residents should never feel pressed or threatened by unwanted solicitation in their own home.”
The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office reminds residents that anytime a salesperson comes to their home selling a product or service, you should:
Ask to see identification
Do not feel pressured to provide any personal information
Call the company or police to confirm the sales people are in the community
Report any unwanted solicitation to local police
The defendant came to the victim’s home on July 23 offering the customer the opportunity to switch energy providers to lower the cost of their energy bills. He was wearing a Direct Energy shirt and identified himself as a supplier with National Grid.
At some point during the transaction with the 69-year-old woman, she was providing information in order to change her electricity supplier. The defendant became angry and yelled at the victim. The defendant put his hand over the victim’s mouth and pushed her to the ground.
The defendant then left the apartment. As the victim tried to close the door, the defendant came back and allegedly knocked her down, grabbed his bag, and then left again. The victim locked the door. The defendant yelled to the victim that he had left his cell phone behind and when the victim refused to let him back in, the defendant kicked the door in and assaulted her as she attempted to call police. She continued to scream for help and the defendant left the apartment.
The defendant was arrested and arraigned in Lowell District Court. Following a dangerousness hearing, he was released and ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device.
The case was investigated by the Lowell Police. The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant District Attorney Heidi Gosule. The Victim Witness Advocate is Lori Riccio.