By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON — A local businessman facing criminal sexual conduct charges will next appear before 33rd District Court Judge Jennifer Coleman Hesson for a Jan. 3 pre-trial examination, according to the court docket.
Rakeshkumar B. Patel, 48, was arrested last month and arraigned on two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a juvenile between the ages of 13 and 15, a 15-year felony, after a girl told police that Patel furnished her with alcohol and raped her at a convenience store. During a Nov. 26 arraignment, Patel pleaded innocent and posted 10 percent of a $50,000 bond. Hesson reportedly increased the bond by $25,000, which Patel posted.
According to court officials, Patel’s bond was conditional that he not have unsupervised contact with any minors, surrender his passport, remain in the state and have no contact with the victim, her family or her attorneys. Patel also faces a misdemeanor count of selling or furnishing alcohol to a minor, publishable by up to 60 days in jail.