Registered sex offender suspected in attack on teenage girl

GILBERT, Ariz. - There's new information about a convicted sex offender suspected of attempting to sexually assault a 14-year-old girl last weekend in a Gilbert neighborhood.

Court documents reveal how that teen fought him off and the DNA evidence that led to his arrest.

46-year-old Carl Wayne Price faced a judge on three felony counts: attempted sexual assault, kidnapping and aggravated assault on a minor.

On the morning of Saturday, March 5, police say Price grabbed the girl from behind and covered her mouth in a community park near Recker and Williams Field Roads. Officers say Price shoved her to the ground, injuring her head and face. They say he then began to choke the teen, telling her to be quiet and he'd let her live.

Authorities say the teen fought the attacker with her knees and also scratched him. Police also say Price pulled up the teen's shirt and bra, and unbuttoned her pants. The girl continued to struggle and Price took off from the scene.

Detectives say blood found on the teen's shirt matched a DNA profile for Price.

On March 9, officers took Price into custody after they tracked him down to his home, which is not far from the park.

A judge set Price's bond at $250,000. If he bails out of jail, he'll be ordered to be on house arrest and wear an ankle bracelet.

"Don't go back to the scene f the alleged crime. Don't have contact with the alleged victim in this case.. no weapon of any sort and as a matter of fact, no contact with minors," said Judge Alysson Abe.

Price was convicted in 1995 of sex crimes involving a child between the ages of 14 and 15 years old in California. Records show he's lived with his wife and stepdaughters in Gilbert for the past two months.