DNA links suspect to attack

A man suspected in a one-night, six-victim crime spree is linked by DNA to at least one of the victims, according to testimony at his trial Tuesday.

Blood from a woman Reginald Newton is accused of sexually assaulting was found on his clothing and rental car. Her DNA was also found on his body, a forensic biologist testified.

Authorities say Mr. Newton and Joshua Danzi attacked women using a knife with a nine-inch serrated blade and a brass knuckles handle in December. The attacks occurred in Dallas, Carrollton, Garland and Richardson.

Only Mr. Newton is on trial in Dallas County court this week on charges of aggravated sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery. Mr. Danzi's trial is pending.

In this week's trial, Mr. Newton is accused of attacking two friends, now both 20, who planned to shop that night for elf costumes to wear at a charity fundraiser.

Two men attacked one of the women as she waited in her green Volkswagen Beetle outside her friend's Carrollton apartment.

The women are not being identified because The Dallas Morning News does not typically identify victims of sex crimes.

During questioning by prosecutor Taly Haffar, the woman who waited in her car testified that a car pulled up next to her, and a man came up to her car. He pressed her half-open window down as she tried to roll it up, she said.

He wore bulky, leather work gloves even though , she said, it was not cold outside. He began beating her face and pulled out her hair. She burned his face with her cigarette because, she said, she wanted to mark his face so he could be found later.

"[Expletive], you make a move, I'm going to kill you, and I'm going to rape you," the woman testified that the man said.

Then, he called his friend over to the car. That man – who authorities say is Mr. Danzi – brought over the knife. The woman testified that Mr. Newton seemed to direct Mr. Danzi's actions.

They asked for money. She gave one of the men $20 from her pocket. Eventually, she was able to grab the knife away from Mr. Danzi.

Soon after, she ran away without the knife. But then Mr. Newton grabbed her friend when she came out of her apartment.

Mr. Newton made the friend drive the Volkswagen to a different location as Mr. Danzi followed in their rented silver Hyundai Sonata. Then, the friend testified, Mr. Newton forced her into the Hyundai where he forced her to perform oral sex at knife point. He also told her that he would make her sign a contract that she was a willing participant.

The men later dropped her off at a warehouse.

A forensic biologist testified the friend's DNA was found on Mr. Newton's clothing and body, as well as in the rental car.

Defense attorney Ward Maedgen questioned the women about whether their separate identifications of Mr. Newton as their attacker was tainted in a police photo lineup. Mr. Newton's photo was the first picture of six on a piece of paper.

The women testified that they identified Mr. Newton because he attacked them. The order of the photos did not make a difference, they testified.

The first woman had extensive injuries to her face, including a broken jaw, nose and eye socket. She testified that she still has pain from her injuries.

The second woman had several cuts from the knife, a concussion and a long cut the length of her nose that bled for a week.

Mr. Newton was also charged with another aggravated sexual assault, another aggravated kidnapping, two counts of attempted aggravated kidnapping and another charge of aggravated robbery. He could face trial on the other charges later.

Mr. Danzi, who was referred to in court but not mentioned by name, is awaiting trial on two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of aggravated robbery, one charge of aggravated sexual assault and one charge of attempted aggravated kidnapping.

The other victims were not mentioned in court Tuesday. If Mr. Newton is convicted, they could testify during the punishment phase of his trial. If convicted, Mr. Newton faces up to life in prison.

Closing arguments will begin this morning.