Wallingford Man Charged With Sexually Assaulting 12-Year-Old Girl

A Wallingford man is facing a felony sexual assault charge after being arrested last week following a five-month investigation.

Philip Graniello, 37, of 47 Valley St., was taken into custody on Jan. 24 on charges of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of risk of injury to a minor. He was held on a $150,000 bond, said Lt. Marc Mikulski, Wallingford police spokesman.

On Sept. 7, police received a report from a 12-year-old victim who said Graniello sexually assaulted her over a year-and-a-half prior, Mikulski said. He said the suspect and the victim were acquaintences and this was not a random incident.

According to the state judicial branch's website, the incidents which spawned the arrest occured on Sept. 1, 2011, and July 1, 2012.

Graniello appered in court late last week and remains in custody on a bond, the state said. He has no criminal record.