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Accused Rapist Held On $750,000 BailHARTFORD, Nov 13, 2012 (The Hartford Courant - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Kenneth Maestas was charged with sexual assault after police say he sexually assaulted a woman in an abandoned Hartford house. The man accused of raping a woman in an abandoned house over the weekend appeared in court on Tuesday, where a judge ordered his bail set at $750,000. Kenneth Maestas, 42, of Hartford was charged Sunday with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, first-degree strangulation, first-degree unlawful restraint and threatening, police said. About 8 p.m. Saturday, police said, officers responded to 867 Broad St. and found a woman hanging out a second-floor window, calling for help. She told police she was sexually assaulted in the abandoned house, they said. Outside court on Tuesday, a woman who described herself as the aunt of Maestas's girlfriend said her phone rang at 2 a.m. Sunday, and police were on the line. They were calling from Maestas's cell phone, which he had left at the crime scene, she said. Police were going through phone numbers stored in the phone as they investigated the crime. The woman, who did not want to be identified, said she told police that they could find him at an address on Woodland Street. Police on Monday said there may be other victims. "We are looking to identify any other victims who may have been in contact with Mr. Maestas," Lt. Brian Foley said Monday. Maestas has served time in prison after being convicted of first-degree unlawful restraint and assault. He also has been convicted of sale of a controlled substance and violation of probation, according to judicial branch records. In Virginia, he has convictions for robbery and statutory rape, a court official said. He was not on probation or parole at the time of his weekend arrest, Foley said. Anyone with any information that might help investigators is asked to call police at 860-757-4000. Anonymous tips may be called in to the Crime Stoppers tip line, 860-722-8477 (TIPS). ___ (c)2012 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.) Visit The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.) at www.courant.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |