An Andalusia woman fought off a would-be rapist Saturday morning. Now, her alleged attacker sits in the Covington County Jail under a $600,000 bond.

Lt. Paul Dean with the Andalusia Police Department said officers were called a burglary and possible sexual assault at the Lark Street home at approximately 6 a.m. The name and age of the victim are being withheld for privacy reasons, he said.

“When officers arrived, they were told by the victim, an elderly female, that someone had broken into her residence and attempted to sexually assault her,” Dean said. “She said she was awakened when the suspect began the attempted sexual assault, but was able to fend him off by fighting with him.

“During the struggle, the victim caused injuries to the suspect that when described, officers felt would be readily identifiable,” he said.

And they were right, Dean said.

Based on the suspect’s description from the victim, officers began to canvass the area and found the suspect, identified as 22-year-old Christopher Lee Steadman, at the first residence searched – a home on Pear Tree Lane.

Steadman, who had visible scratches and contusions on his head, neck and face, was taken into custody and interviewed at the APD, where he confessed, Dean said.

“This was a random act,” Dean said. “The two didn’t know each other. There is no worse person in our society than those who prey on the elderly and/or children.

“These personality types have no place in the free world and we, in law enforcement, fight every day to remove these people from our communities for the safety of everyone,” he said.

Steadman, who was recently released from a prison up north after serving time for burglary, is charged with burglary I, attempted rape I and sexual abuse I, Dean said.