HUNTINGTON BEACH : Neighbor Held in Assault of 77-Year-Old

A neighbor has been arrested on suspicion of beating and sexually assaulting a 77-year-old woman before fleeing in her car, police said Tuesday.

Robert Paul Moore Jr., 31, was arrested more than a month after the attack on the woman at her Huntington Beach mobile home park on Beach Boulevard.

The victim was found June 17, tied up, beaten and assaulted.

Moore lived with his parents in the park and had done maintenance work for the woman.

Her 1989 light blue Cadillac had been stolen, and Moore, who worked part time at the mobile home park, offering gardening and home-care services for the elderly, was gone.

Huntington Beach Police Officer Mike Kelly said the car was found in San Ysidro several days after Moore disappeared. He was arrested July 25 in San Diego by U.S. marshals, Kelly said.

Moore now remains in Orange County Jail awaiting arraignment Aug. 11 on 12 counts that include robbery, burglary, grand theft auto, assault with a deadly weapon and rape. His bail has been set at $500,200, authorities said. Moore has a record of two parole violations for driving under the influence, officials said.

The woman, who had been beaten by fists, is “still pretty shaken and is living with relatives,” Kelly said.