CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 31-year-old cold case was solved after advances in DNA technology led to the identification of a suspect in a sexual assault and burglary case, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said Wednesday.

Tony G. Leslie, now 48 and a convicted felon, was charged with first-degree rape and burglary, officials said. Leslie was serving a 13-year sentence for a separate burglary at the time.

The case dates back to Dec. 25, 1993, when officers went to investigate a report of a burglary and sexual assault.

"When officers arrived, the victim was transported to the hospital for treatment and the collection of a sexual assault kit," police said in a statement. "With no leads at the time, the case eventually went cold."

In 2022, evidence from the case was sent for advanced forensic analysis. The testing uncovered a partial male DNA sample, which was entered into the State Combined DNA Index System and produced a match, identifying Leslie.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg detectives interviewed Leslie at the Scotland County Correctional Institution, and the cold case prosecutor indicted him.

Leslie in March pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and was sentenced to an additional 14 years in prison, which will be served consecutively after his current sentence.

Authorities encourage anyone with information about unsolved cases to contact the Cold Case Unit at 704-432-1600 (TIPS).