Jogging Rapist Who Targeted BU Students Caught, Police Say

• Subscribe to Brookline Patch news alerts

An Allston man who sexually assaulted at least five women in and around the Boston University campus over the last year has been arrested, police said.

Steven Lent, 26, of Brighton Avenue, was caught as he left his apartment Friday, police said.

He’s accused of raping a woman on Aug. 14, 2014, in Brighton and grabbed or exposing himself to at least four Boston University students over the last year.

Police said Lent would appear to be jogging when he attacked the women. All of the assaults happened within a mile of his apartment, police said.

Lent was held on $50,000 bail during his arraignment Tuesday.

Police distributed these surveillance photos taken by a Boston University security camera at 855 Commonwealth Ave. were key in capturing Lent:

Lent was charged with one count of rape and three counts of incident assault and battery. He’s due back in court July 14.

Earlier this month, police released these accounts of two of Lent’s alleged attacks:

• Incident 1: At about 5:23pm, on Monday, May 4, 2015, officers from District D-14 (Brighton) responded to a call for an indecent assault in the area of Brighton Ave & Chester Street. On arrival, officers spoke to the victim who stated that she was walking along Chester Street when an unknown male approached her from behind and attempted to lift up her dress. The victim states as soon as she felt the suspect attempting to lift up her dress, she quickly turned and struck him. At this point, the victim states that she chased the suspect for several yards as he fled the scene on foot running along Chester Street towards Brighton Ave. Officers promptly broadcast a description of the suspect over the police radio. However, a search of the area for the suspect proved unsuccessful.
• Incident 2: At about 8:52pm, on Monday, May 4, 2015, officers from District D-14 (Brighton) responded to a call for an indecent assault in the area of 800 Commonwealth Ave in Brighton. Officers spoke to the victim who stated that she had been walking along Commonwealth Ave earlier in the evening when an unknown male approached her from behind, lifted up her skirt and grabbed her buttocks. Suspect then fled the area on foot outbound on Commonwealth Ave in the direction of the Agganis Arena. A search of the area for the suspect proved unsuccessful.

---------

Previous

• Police Seek Suspect in Sexual Assaults Near Boston University