Former Bethel Restaurateur in Sex Assault Case Dies of Cancer

BETHEL, CT — Antonio Fernandes, former owner of Tonelli's restaurant in town, died Tuesday from brain cancer at age 56.

He is survived by Helen Rose Paravalos Fernandes, his wife of 33 years, three children, his mother and four sisters.

Fernandes made headlines in 2013 when he was charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault stemming from accusations made by two waitresses in his employ. The women alleged that Fernandes raped them on separate occasions in 2011. Fernandes pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Fernandes' case went to trial in October 2014, and ended in a hung jury. When the charges were subsequently downgraded to fourth-degree sexual assault, Fernandes pleaded no contest, and was sentenced to three years of probation.

Fernandes, who moved to the U.S. in 1969 at the age five, was the co-owner of Tonelli's Restaurant in Bethel for twenty-eight years. He met his wife at the age of eighteen, when he became a lifeguard for the Danbury Public Works Department.

According to his death notice, Fernandes was a member of both Danbury and Bethel Zoning Commissions, and president of the building committee for the Portuguese Culture Center. He was an avid beekeeper, farmer, chef, card player, entrepreneur; and taught as a certified Connecticut hunting instructor, and acted as an insurance liaison to friends and family.

"His greatest accomplishment was his family; he was extremely proud of his three children. His daughter graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and both of his sons are attorneys at Ventura Law. He will be missed for his sense of humor, large heart, and great smile which always filled the room," his death notice reads.

Fernandes' family will hold a Celebration of Life Gathering at Danbury Memorial Funeral Home on Sunday, June 9, from 2 to 6 p.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial to be held on Monday, June 10, at St. Peter's Church in Danbury at 9:00 a.m. with burial at St. Peter's Cemetery to follow.