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Man allegedly raped woman who asked for betel nut
A 49-year-old man was arrested for allegedly raping a woman who asked him for betel nut at his home in China Town last Tuesday afternoon.
Edwin Somorang Kileleman was taken to Superior Court on Friday to face two charges, including sexual assault in the first degree.
A $45,000 cash bail was initially imposed for the his temporary release but Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho on Friday granted assistant public defender Eden Schwartz’s motion to release her client on the grounds that he was held unlawfully for more than 24 hours.
Camacho found out that Kileleman was arrested without a warrant on Wednesday at 12:41pm and then detained for more than 26 hours.
“The Department of Public Safety must do better. Defendant Kileleman’s case involves serious charges…” the judge said.
The court, the judge noted, is mandated by the Constitution and the Commonwealth Criminal Code to order Kileleman’s release from custody.
“The blame for dropping the ball falls squarely on the shoulders of the DPS officer,” he said.
Camacho prohibited Kileleman from having contact with the alleged victim while charges are pending.
The judge directed Kileleman to remain in contact with his attorney and appear at all future court proceedings where his appearance is mandatory.
Assistant attorney general Barbara Cepeda appeared for the government at the hearing.
A police report states that an officer responded to Kileleman’s house on Wednesday morning in response to a report of a rape incident.
The victim allegedly told police that she was at Kileleman’s house on Tuesday to ask him for betel nut and he told her to go inside the bedroom to check. Kileleman then walked inside the room and allegedly touched her privates so she told him to stop. The suspect then threatened to beat her up and then allegedly raped her.
The victim told police that Kileleman has been sexually assaulting her for the past 10 months but she was scared to report it.
Police detective Rhonda John stated in her report that during her interview at the Department of Corrections the day after Kileleman’s arrest, the defendant admitted having sex with the victim on Tuesday and claimed it was consensual.
