By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON — Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Margie R. Braxton will hold a disposition conference Tuesday, Feb. 7 to consider charges against a 48-year-old businessman accused of sexually assaulting a teen girl.
Rakeshkumar Patel was arraigned Jan. 19 on two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a juvenile between the ages of 13 and 15, and entered a plea of innocent to the 15-year felony. Patel was also charged with one count of criminal sexual conduct of force or coercion, and one count of furnishing alcohol to a minor.
As reported to Trenton Police, the girl said that Patel raped her the day before Thanksgiving at Trenton Food Mart, 3720 Fort St. The girl testified during preliminary hearings at 33rd District Court that she and other teens frequently spent time at the store, and that Patel — known to local youth as “Rocky” — sometimes provided alcohol. The rape allegedly took place in the back room of the business.
Patel remains free on $75,000 bond, surrendered his passport and is prohibited from contact with the girl or her family.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected])