Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting 10-Year-Old Meriden Girl Appears in Court

Jose Gonzalez, formerly known as Desmond James, 23, the man accused of climbing into the bedroom window of a home in Meriden and sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl appeared in court on Monday, NBC Connecticut reports.

According to the news channel, the man allegedly told the girl he was going to kill her.

Gonzalez was arrested in Waterbury on Friday and ran from police when he was confronted and found to be in possession of heroin, according to WTNH News 8.

The incident occurred Wednesday morning when the man entered the home through a window and sexually assaulted the girl at 3:30 a.m.

According to NBC Connecticut, the man told the girl, “nothing was going to hurt” during the attack and placed a pillow over her face. The girl alerted her family members to the attack as Gonzalez was leaving and her mother was able to provide a partial description to the police.

DNA evidence from the victim helped to identify Gonzalez, the news channel reports.

Gonzalez was charged with home invasion, first-degree sexual assault, risk of injury to a minor, unlawful restraint and threatening.

Gonzalez was also wanted on an outstanding warrant for escaping from the Connecticut Department of Correction’s Parole Department, according to NBC Connecticut. He has previously been convicted on burglary and robbery charges in Meriden in 2011 and 2012.

Gonzalez will appear in New Haven Superior Court on Tuesday.

Read the full story at NBC Connecticut.

Image via Shutterstock

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