Bethel Restaurateur Appears in Court on Rape Charges

Tony Fernandes, owner of Tonelli's on Grassy Plain Street, Bethel, appeared in Danbury Superior Court Tuesday for his arraignment on two rape charges dating back to 2011.

Fernandes appeared before Superior Court Judge Andrew Roraback, and Attorney Eugene Zingaro represented him. Zingaro asked that the case be continued for a month. Judge Roraback agreed.

Fernandes, 50, is a former Danbury restaurant owner and former president of the Portuguese Cultural Center in Danbury. Fernandes owns Tonelli's Restaurant on Grassy Plain Street in Bethel.

According to Bethel police, the charges stem from an investigation after two former employees of Fernandes’ Tonelli’s Restaurant on Grassy Plains Street reported that he had sexually assaulted them.

Fernandes was released after posting $200,000 in anticipation of his arraignment Tuesday in Danbury Superior Court. The case was continued to May 21.

Fernandes was charged in Bethel with two counts of first-degree sexual assault, one on or around Oct. 1, 2011, and the second on or around Dec. 1, 2011.