Man Arrested For Attempted Sexual Assault Of Elderly Woman

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- A 21-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly attempting to sexually assault an 80-year-old woman in a Riverpark neighborhood, and police credited an alert witness for halting and reporting the attack.

Investigators said the victim was checking her mail on the 5400 block of Carlson Drive shortly before 11:00 p.m. when Martin Waigwa approached her from behind, dragging her into the bushes and throwing her to the ground.

The victim fought back and screamed, according to police, and a woman who was driving by spotted the attack and stopped to assist. While calling police, the woman yelled at the suspect, forcing him to flee the scene.

The woman followed Waigwa until police arrived to make the arrest, investigators said.

In a jailhouse interview, Waigwa said he had no intention of sexually assaulting the woman but can't remember why he attacked her. A three-month binge of "crunk weed" left him with a hazy memory, he claimed.

"I don't know what I was thinking," he said. "Give my apologies."

Investigators said the victim was not seriously injured in the incident.

Waiga is being held on multiple felony charges, including false imprisonment, kidnapping and elder abuse, and is in custody on $200,000 bail.