Crime & Safety

Man Charged With Sex Assault 10 Years After Alleged Crime

Naugatuck police arrested a 47-year-old Bridgeport man on Tuesday.

 

A Bridgeport man has been charged in connection with a sexual assault that police say occurred more than 10 years ago against a Naugatuck woman who was a minor at the time of the alleged incident.

The woman made a complaint to the Naugatuck Police Department on Dec. 13, 2010, that Francisco Marques, now 47, of 1088 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, inappropriately touched her nine years prior to the time that she made the complaint, according to a police report. No further details were given about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

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Marques turned himself in to Naugatuck police at 12:54 p.m. Tuesday and was charged with criminal attempt at second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a child. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. 

Connecticut law states that the statute of limitations for sexual assault of a minor is 30 years after the victim reaches 18 (i.e. until age 48) or up to five years from the date that the victim notifies police, or a prosecutor, of the crime, whichever is earlier, according to an April 5, 2012, report on from the Connecticut Office of Legislative Research.

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Lt. Robert Harrison, spokesman for the Naugatuck Police Department, said it is unusual but not unheard of for a case to be solved this many years after it occurs.

"Sometimes it takes a victim many years before it’s the right time for them to disclose a crime like that," he said.

Marques was also charged over the weekend with criminal violation of a protective order for trying to contact the victim via text message, police said.

Marques was released on a $7,500 bond and will be arraigned Wednesday, Aug. 22, at Waterbury Superior Court.


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