
By The Star Staff
The office of the Special Independent Prosecutor Panel announced Tuesday that former Popular Democratic Party Rep. Orlando Aponte Rosario will face charges of spousal sexual assault, aggravated abuse and violation of the Weapons Law.
The judicial process against Aponte Rosario will take place in room 405 of the Bayamón Court of First Instance (CFI) on Aug. 16 and Aug. 17, as requested by his legal defense. Special independent prosecutors (SIPs) Leticia Pabón Ortiz, Fabiola Acaron Porrata Doria and Ramón Mendoza Rosario are in charge of the case.
The SIPs filed two charges under Article 3.2 of aggravated battery and one charge under Article 3.5 of spousal sexual assault, both covered by Law 54 for the Prevention of and Intervention with Domestic Violence. Additionally, the former legislator is charged under Article 6.14 of the Weapons Law for pointing and/or firing a firearm.
During the Rule 6 hearing held on June 24, bail for Aponte Rosario was set at $200,000. The Pretrial Services Program deferred part of the bail related to one of the charges under Law 54, while the ex-lawmaker paid the remaining amount through a private guarantor. Aponte Rosario was placed under supervision using an electronic shackle.
The case originated when, in April 2023, the CFI of Bayamón issued a protection order against Aponte Rosario, which triggered an investigation by the Department of Justice’s Division of Public Integrity and Comptroller Affairs.
Aponte Rosario resigned from his seat in the island House of Representatives on June 29, 2023.
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