Alleged Fontainebleau Rape Suspect Denied Bond
MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – The man Miami Beach Police said raped a woman in her penthouse at Miami Beach's Fontainebleau Hotel made his first appearance in court Friday afternoon.
Twenty-six-year-old Rafael Munguia of Mexico was arrested Thursday night for the alleged sexual assault. In court Friday, Judge Mindy Glazer denied bond for Munguia and ordered him to stay away from the victim in the case.
At one point, Munguia started to say, "I wanted to tell you that I didn't do anything to the girl," but the public defender stopped Munguia from saying anymore.
Munguia told Judge Glazer he was visiting from his home country of Mexico and that he works as a computer salesman back home. He said he lives with his parents in Mexico and had little money in the bank, but that there were no mental health issues.
According to Miami Beach Police, the victim said she went to sleep around 3:30 a.m. in her suite alone, but left the door open for her female friend who she was expecting to come to the room later, according to Miami Beach Police.
Police said the victim woke up to a naked man getting into her bed and the alleged assaulter then allegedly raped her.
According to the police report, the victim was eventually able to get free from the alleged rapist and run to her sister's suite where police and fire rescue were called.
Police looked at surveillance tapes and said a man resembling the description of the alleged rapist entered and left the victim's suite over a roughly 22 minute period.
Det. Vivian Hernandez of the Miami Beach Police Department told CBS4 that the call came in about 7 a.m.
"This is an ongoing investigation. We are interviewing people. If anyone has any information that is pertinent to investigate, please come forward with it. Any type of sexual battery allegation is taken very seriously by the Miami Beach Police Department."
If you can help or know anything about this case, call Miami Beach Police or Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at 305 471-TIPS (8477).
