Vernon Man Charged with Rape in Second Major Case Since April

VERNON, CT — A man arrested less than two months ago for coercion has been charged with raping and beating a woman, according to an arrest warrant.

Daniel Candella, 30, of Vernon, spent the weekend in the Vernon Police Department lockup on a $500,000 bond after being charged with first-degree sexual assault, second-degree unlawful restraint, second-degree strangulation and second-degree breach of peace, according to a warrant. He was to appear in court on Tuesday, police said.

The coercion arrest was on April 1 and the warrant for the latest charges focuses on an incident that took place on or near May 18.

The mother of what the warrant calls a "female victim" complained to police that she was being abused by her boyfriend, Candella, police said. When officers interviewed her, they discovered bruises all over her body, the warrant states. At first, the woman blamed a variety of reasons for the bruises, including sports, but police in the warrant said the injuries were consistent with domestic violence.

According to the warrant, on the night in question, Candella put the woman in a bear hug and held her so tight she could not move and it bruised her jaw. Her throat was also bruised after Candella choked her, according to the warrant. He also raped her that night after she told him no to sex, according to a warrant.

At one point, he placed his hand over her mouth to silence her, the warrant states.

The woman told police Candella would get violent when drunk, according to a warrant.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel