Court Appearances For Suspects In Violent Derby, Shelton Cases

Justin Bonner, a Stratford man accused of kidnapping, beating and raping a woman in Shelton last summer, may be considering a plea agreement discussed in Judge Richard Arnold’s chambers in Milford Court on Tuesday.

Bonner appeared in court briefly before his attorney, public defender David F. Egan, met in the judge’s chambers with the chief’s state’s attorney.

Upon returning to open court, Judge Arnold said he had until Oct. 27 to consider an offer, the details of which were unknown Tuesday. 

Egan described Tuesday’s appearance as the final continuance for the case against his client.

Egan told Judge Arnold he is waiting a physician’s report, which is part of the reason he asked for the continuance. Egan declined to tell the Valley Indy what that physician’s report is about and how it affects the case.

State’s Attorney Kevin D. Lawlor wouldn’t comment on the case.

Bonner faces charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, first-degree kidnapping, first degree robbery with a dangerous instrument and first-degree assault in connection with the June 2, 2010 attack in Shelton.

At about 2 a.m. on that date, Bonner allegedly kidnapped the Cumberland Farms clerk from the shop on River Road. He put the 46-year-old woman in the truck of his car, police said.

He drove away, but periodically stopped the car to the beat the woman in the head with objects in his trunk, including soda cans, police said.

Bonner and the victim had no previous connection to each other, police said. He told police he was high on Angel Dust (PCP) at the time of the assault, according to an arrest warrant.

Sean Rasmussen, a man accused of beating his partner with a wine bottle in Derby, also appeared in Milford Court Tuesday.

Egan is also Rasmussen’s attorney. The case against Rasmussen was continued until Oct. 27.

DERBY PDNo reason was given for the continuance, and Egan would not discuss the case when asked outside the courtroom

Rasmussen, 41, was charged June 8 with first-degree assault.

According to a police report Rasmussen hit the victim in the head with a wine bottle, factoring the man’s skull, eye socket, jaw and cheek bone.

The broken bottle cut the victim’s arm, severing his artery in two places. He required emergency surgery to save his life, the report said.

The attack took place inside a residence on Derby Avenue.

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