Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting 10-Year-Old Meriden Girl Makes Second Court Appearance

The man accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old Meriden girl made his second court appearance on Tuesday, WFSB reports.

Jose Gonzalez, formerly known as Desmond James, 23, broke into a home in downtown Meriden on Oct. 14 and sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl at 3:30 a.m.

According to NBC Connecticut, Gonzalez placed a pillow over the girl’s face threatening to kill her. 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 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.

Gonzalez was on probation under community release and had escaped from a halfway house on Oct. 3, WFSB reports. His probation period was meant to end in December.

Gonzalez pleaded not guilty on first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor charges, the news channel reports. A protective order was issued against him and his bail was set at $1 million.

Gonzalez’s possible persistent offender status is to be reviewed and he is ordered not to have contact with the victim. His next court date is Nov. 6.

Image via Shutterstock

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