Bond Raised for Canton Man Charged with Rape in Trenton

Rakeshkumar B. Patel of Canton, charged with rape and selling/furnishing alcohol to a minor, pleaded not guilty to the alcohol charge during an appearance in the 33rd District Court in Woodhaven on Tuesday.

Patel, a 48-year-old Trenton business owner, was charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a juvenile between the ages of 13 to 15, one count of criminal sexual conduct of force or coercion, and one count of selling/furnishing alcohol to a minor after .

Each count of criminal sexual conduct with a juvenile between the ages of 13 to 15 carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

Patel's attorney, Daniel Hilf, said the alleged incident took place at the . Judge Jennifer Coleman Hesson granted the adjournment after Hilf requested time to gather more information for his client.

Patel's next court hearing is scheduled at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 3.

Hesson raised Patel's bond from 10 percent of $50,000 to 10 percent of $75,000.

Patel posted an additional $2,500 to satisfy the increase in bond and to avoid being taken into police custody. He posted $5,000 on the day of his arrest.

An out-county prosecutor set the initial bond following Patel's arrest, and Hesson said she "would have never set the bond at that."

Hesson advised Patel he was not allowed to have unsupervised contact with a minor and he cannot contact the girl, her family or friends.

Hesson said Patel could not work the cash register at his shop by himself, "where there is going to be minors coming in and out of that store." Patel is required to have a third party present while working in the store, Hesson said.

Hilf said he did not have a comment on behalf of Patel.