COTATI ? Sonoma County Sheriff”s detectives have arrested Thomas Darin Boccaleoni, 44, in connection with a string of sexual assaults and attempted assaults on women that occurred since November 2008 on rural roadways in Sonoma County. Boccaleoni, a cook in Marin County, was arrested at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at his Cotati residence.
Boccaleoni is believed to be responsible for several roadside assaults that occurred along Bennett Valley, Calistoga and Sexton Roads. Boccaleoni would encounter the women driving alone at night and try to persuade them to pull over by flashing his headlights or pulling alongside of them. He would then approach the victims with a ruse, such as reporting a vehicle accident or mechanical problems with the victim”s vehicle. Once Boccaleoni got close, he would try to prevent them from leaving. On two occasions Boccaleoni, sexually assaulted the victims.
Leads developed from law enforcement sources as well as tips from citizens led sheriff”s detectives to investigate Boccaleoni. Two victims positively identified Boccaleoni in photo line-ups as being the suspect that accosted them after they stopped alongside Sonoma County roadways at his persistence. Boccaleoni owns vehicles similar to the ones used in these cases. Search warrants were conducted at his residence late Tuesday evening.
Boccaleoni was arrested and booked at the Sonoma County Jail for felony assault with intent to commit rape, false imprisonment, criminal threats and a probation violation out of San Francisco County. He is being held on “no-bail” status. The cases are still under investigation and it is anticipated that more charges may be filed against Boccaleoni.
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Detective Joel Pedersen at 565-7600.
