Man accused of breaking into a St. Paul home and sexually assaulting the homeowner pleads not guilty

ST. PAUL, Minnesota – A 34-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to the charges A home invasion and sexual assault in the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood of St. Paul.

Last month, Deonte Marquon Thomas of Maplewood was charged in Ramsey County with first-degree sexual assault, first-degree burglary and aggravated possession of a weapon by an unauthorized person. He pleaded not guilty to those charges on Monday.

The charges stem from the early morning attack that happened on April 15th. Thomas is accused of forcing his way into a home at South Snelling and Stanford avenues. He allegedly robbed the homeowner before producing a gun and sexually assaulting her.

According to police, the attack occurred between 4:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. The victim said she first heard someone banging on the side door.

When Thomas was arrested late last month, St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry said investigators found him after executing search warrants in Maplewood and Stillwater. Henry said his department had more than 700 employees working on the case.

After his arrest, Thomas reportedly told police he was “frustrated” and “angry” about his living conditions. He has previous convictions for domestic violence, larceny and larceny. Officials say Thomas is considered an “extremely high risk to public safety.”

Sexual assault by strangers is rare. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 8 out of 10 rapes are committed by someone the victim knows.

If convicted, Thomas could face up to 30 years in prison on the criminal sexual conduct charge.

Sexual Assault Resources

General sexual assault information and resource websites across Minnesota:

General sexual assault websites: