Police file rape charge after New Year’s assault
An Allentown man faces rape and related charges following a New Year’s Day incident in Nesquehoning.
Melvin Castro Nunez, 29, of Hanover Avenue, was arraigned by District Judge Beth Dodson Monday afternoon on charges of rape-unconscious victim; involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault-unconscious, indecent assault, aggravated indecent assault without consent and indecent assault without consent.
Dodson set bail at $75,000 unsecured, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled Aug. 7.
According to court papers, Nesquehoning police responded to St. Luke’s Miners Campus for a woman being treated for an assault.
The woman told police that Castro Nunez was a guest at the home she shares with her fiancé for a New Year’s celebration.
She told police that she fell asleep on the couch after consuming several alcoholic drinks in a short time, becoming intoxicated, court papers said.
Sometime during the night, she remembered waking up and feeling her underwear being removed and Castro Nunez assaulting her, court papers said. She told police that she tried to say no, but was too intoxicated to get away and he did what he wanted.
She did not say anything to her fiancé until after he took Castro Nunez home, and knew she had to go to the hospital and report the incident, court papers said.
Hospital personnel collected a sexual assault evidence kit and turned it over to police.
Officers interviewed Castro Nunez, who denied having sexual contact with the woman while at the home. After being informed that a rape kit was submitted for DNA testing, he admitted to having sex with the woman, court papers said.
Police obtained a search warrant for a DNA sample from Castro Nunez, and the sample matched evidence from the rape kit.