Victor Pena Charged With Rape In January Kidnapping Case
BOSTON (CBS) -- The man accused of kidnapping a 23-year-old woman in Boston two months ago now faces three charges of aggravated rape. Victor Pena, 38, appeared in Charlestown District Court Friday morning for the first time since he was sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for a mental health evaluation on Jan. 23.
Pena was also deemed competent to stand trial. He was not formally arraigned Friday. Instead, he will be held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for March 15 where those charges will be heard.
Police said the woman went missing after leaving Hennessy's bar near Quincy Market around 11 p.m. on Jan 19. Pena was seen on surveillance images from Congress Street with his arm around her a short time later.
On Jan. 22, she was found alive in Pena's Charlestown apartment.
Pena's brother, Jose, said outside court that he believes his brother is innocent. "Rape her? I really doubt it. I 100 percent doubt," he said.
In court in Charlestown following Victor Pena case who his attorney says will soon be arraigned in 1 count Kidnapping and 3 counts of aggravated rape. His brother, Jose in video says not true #wbz pic.twitter.com/UK0mXgJsOX
— Paul Burton (@PaulWBZ) March 1, 2019
Defense attorney William Barabino spoke outside of court as well. He said he could not discuss the rape charges. "What he has been charged with right now is kidnapping. A kidnapping requires a lack of consent and at this point, we know what you know. We know that at some point, according to video, that the video shows them walking together without force," said Barabino.
One day before Pena's appearance in court, a Providence man was arrested following the disappearance of another 23-year-old woman in Boston. Jassy Correia was last seen leaving the Venu nightclub in Boston's Theater District late Saturday night.
Louis Coleman, of Providence, R.I., was taken into custody in Delaware Thursday.