Pretrial Continues for Former Bethel Restaurateur Charged with Sexual Assault of Employees

Former Bethel restaurant owner Antonio Fernandes is due in court on Dec. 18, to answer to two counts of sexual assault.

The charges stem from accusations from two former employees of his restaurant for incidents that allegedly occurred at Tonelli’s back in 2011. According to Bethel police, two women reported that he had sexually assaulted them.

Fernandes turned himself in to Bethel police on April 12, 2013 on an active arrest warrant for two counts of first-degree sexual assault.

He has pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Fernandes was released in April of 2013 after posting $200,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on Dec. 18,. Fernandes is in a jury trial and is being represented by Zingaro & Co., LLC.

Tonelli’s closed and is under new ownership as of July, 2013.

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