Watertown Man Accused Of Kidnapping, Assaulting Woman At Gunpoint: PD

WATERTOWN, CT — A local man is accused of kidnapping a woman, menacing her at gunpoint and sexually assaulting her, according to police.

Police responded Sunday around 2:47 a.m. to the area of Swift Middle School for the report of an assault.

The woman told police she had been held against her will and assaulted by Christopher Gianfrancesco, 50, at his home, at 254 Davis St., Apt. A, in Watertown.

The victim knows Gianfrancesco and had met him Saturday evening outside of Watertown in his vehicle, according to police.

The victim told police Gianfrancesco drove towards Watertown and refused to allow her to get out of the vehicle. While he was driving, Gianfrancesco had a handgun and threatened the victim, police said.

Around 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Gianfrancesco fired several rounds out of the vehicle into a wooded area on Litchfield Road. Police are still investigating the exact spot where the shots were fired.

The victim was driven to Gianfrancesco’s residence and assaulted there, police said. She ultimately fled the residence and was able to contact police for help.

Around 3 a.m. Sunday, Officer Matt Brown took Gianfrancesco into custody at his home.

Police said Gianfrancesco, a convicted felon, had a handgun in his possession when he was arrested.

Gianfrancesco has been charged with first-degree kidnapping with a firearm, first-degree aggravated sexual assault, discharge of a firearm from a public highway, unlawful discharge of a firearm, criminal use of a firearm, and possession of a weapon in a vehicle.

He is also facing charges of first-degree threatening, first-degree unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, second-degree breach of peace, interfering with an officer, interfering with a 911 call, and additional weapon-related charges.

Gianfrancesco was held on a $2 million bond and was due to be arraigned today in Superior Court in Waterbury.