Man Accused Of Raping Woman At Bar

A 22-year-old New London man is facing a sexual assault charge after he was accused of raping a 24-year-old woman at a downtown bar in April.

Jose R. Pruett, of 28 Ashcraft Road, is free on a $100,000 surety bond after his arrest on June 7. He has been charged with first-degree sexual assalt and second-degree false statement.

According to an affidavit by Detective Matthew Galante of the , the woman said she had taken part in an underwear/pajama fashion show at on the evening of April 15. She said Pruett sexually assaulted her twice in the women's bathroom when she went there after the show. The woman told a bouncer about the incident after it occurred, and told police she and Pruett had consensual sex at the bar in January.

Galante said Pruett was interviewed early the next day and on April 27. He denied having any relationship with the woman and said she had been making advances toward him. Pruett later changed his story to say he had sex with the woman at the bar about a month before the incident as well as consensual sex there on April 15.

Pruett consented to a DNA sample, and the police department received records from Lawrence & Memorial Hospital's medical examination of the woman on May 20. Pruett is next scheduled to appear in Superior Court on June 22 for arraignment.