DNA test links defendant to rape, assaults

WORCESTER— A Leominster man accused of assaulting two women in their homes and raping one of them has been linked to the alleged sexual assault by DNA testing, a judge was told today.

John J. Roemer, the lawyer appointed to represent 24-year-old Dominic Kent, said during a Worcester Superior Court hearing that forensic testing conducted at the request of the prosecution had implicated Mr. Kent in the alleged June 23, 2005, rape of a Leominster woman at knife point.

Mr. Kent, of 304 Lancaster St., Apt. 1 in Leominster is accused of climbing through the window of a second-floor apartment in a nearby building during the early morning hours of June 23, 2005, and raping the woman who lived there. Police said the assailant had a scarf over his face and displayed a gun while holding a knife to the woman.

Mr. Kent, the son of Thomas R. Kent, a retired Leominster police officer, also stands accused of assaulting another Leominster woman in her home on June 10, 2005. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 cash bail on charges of aggravated rape, two counts each of home invasion and armed burglary, armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Mr. Kent has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Mr. Roemer told Judge C. Jeffrey Kinder that a DNA analysis based on testing requested by Assistant District Attorney Anthony J. Marotta had implicated Mr. Kent in the alleged rape. The defense lawyer said the report he received yesterday from Mr. Marotta indicated his client’s DNA profile matched a DNA profile developed from physical evidence in the case. He said the report stated that the chances of such a match occurring at random were 1 in 1,200 in the Caucasian population.

An earlier round of DNA tests proved inconclusive, according to Mr. Roemer.

Mr. Roemer told the judge he was planning to seek funds to hire an expert to conduct additional DNA testing. Judge Kinder gave Mr. Roemer until May 11 to file his written request for funds. The judge also scheduled a May 25 status report in the case.