Nashua Man Arrested On Rape, Simple Assault-Domestic Violence Charges

NASHUA, NH — A Gate City man is facing rape and assault charges after a woman filed a complaint with police on Saturday.

Around 11:30 p.m., a woman in her mid-20s met with an officer and filed a complaint accusing Joseph Paulauskas, 24, of Amble Road in Nashua, of forcibly sexually assaulting her and biting her neck and breast, according to an affidavit. A couple of hours later, a detective interviewed the victim and she was also examined at the Southern New Hampshire Medical Center. The woman described Paulauskas as “a newly developing romantic partner,” but someone she had known since high school.

On the night in question, the couple watched television together, kissing and cuddling, when she accused him of taking it further and asking him to stop, the report said. Paulauskas “ignored (her) request,” made further advances, began pulling her pants down, and bit her neck, an affidavit stated. The victim continued to push him away, saying “No,” but was unsuccessful, noting there was a “significant size advantage” to him between the two, the report stated. She accused Paulauskas of attacking her while she was “paralyzed in fear” and unable to move.

During one part of the attack, she was able to get out of her temporary paralysis and stand up, asking, “Why would you do this time?” She got up, went to the bathroom to clean up due to injuries, and left, the affidavit said.

The detective confirmed abrasions, bruises, and bite indentations on the woman’s neck and face, as well as a significant bruise on her upper right chest and a scratch on her back, the report stated. The detective also interviewed a family member who picked up the woman at the Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, park and ride lot and gave her a ride. After hearing her story and seeing the injuries, the family member drove the victim to the Dracut MA Police Department, which redirected them to Nashua, where the crime occurred.

After an examination at the hospital early Sunday morning, she was released, and detectives went to Amble Road to speak with Paulauskas, the report stated.

Paulauskas “made admission to having what he described as consensual intercourse” that evening, the detective wrote. He said the encounter was brief and ended when she became “upset” and left the home, the affidavit stated.

Paulauskas “initially provided written consent” to undergo a suspect sexual assault examination at the hospital as well as a search of the home, the report said. He was taken to the hospital while other detectives searched the house, the affidavit stated.

To speak with an advocate, call the statewide domestic violence hotline at 1-866-644-3574 or the statewide sexual assault hotline at 1-800-277-5570, or to find the crisis center nearest you, visit the New Hampshire Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence website, linked here.

A free, 24/7 confidential service is available that can provide people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, or those around them, with support, information, and local resources. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

After beginning the search of the Amble Road home, another family member arrived and, after speaking with a former spouse, requested to rescind consent. Detectives agreed to the request but remained at the house, securing the bedroom and bathroom while applying for a search warrant.

At the hospital, Paulauskas also spoke with the family member and rescinded the sexual assault suspect search, the report said.

Around noon Sunday, a judge approved the warrants for Paulauskas, his bedroom, and the bathroom, the report said. In the home, detectives seized a bed sheet, pillows, and blankets, while during the suspect search, clothing was seized, DNA samples taken, and swabs made of genitalia and hands, the affidavit said.

Paulauskas was later arrested on a single felony aggravated felonious sexual assault charge. He was Mirandized but declined to speak with the detective without an attorney.

Later, two more felony aggravated felonious sexual assault and two domestic violence-simple assault charges were added to the arrest.

Paulauskas was held on preventative detention and arraigned on Monday.

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