Charlotte County Sheriff – John Davenport – today announced the arrest of a homeless man in connection with last week’s rape of a 92-year-old woman.

The burglary and rape occurred last Wednesday in Port Charlotte.

The woman lives alone. She told investigators she heard someone cutting the screen of her lanai – then saw a man entering her house. He immediately attacked and sexually assaulted her.

She described her attacker as a white male with brown hair…but said thick eyeglasses were his most distinguishing characteristic.

Spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office – Bob Carpenter – says police work led to the arrest of 35-year-old Devin Lefforge.

“This was quite a combined effort. It was two of our road deputies… they’re out there in the trenches all the time, and of course they know a lot of these homeless people in the area. So they went to some of the people that they’ve known…some of them they’ve arrested…and went into some of the camps and started talking to them. She identified this man…he had a very large thick glasses…eyeglasses… he was very identifiable.”

Carpenter says those eyeglasses led to a break in the case when one of the homeless men tipped off deputies to Lefforge’s whereabouts.

Lefforge is being held without bond at the Charlotte County Jail. He’s charged with sexual battery and burglary.

The 92-year-old woman was treated for a broken rib, and several bruises and cuts to her knee, arms and face. She’s now back home.