Trenton Business Owner Accused of Rape Bound Over for Trial

A local business owner accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in the storeroom of his convenience store was bound over for trial Tuesday at 33rd District Court in Woodhaven.

A trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 17 at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit.

The man was bound over after a preliminary examination of the evidence in which the girl described the moments leading up to being raped by Rakeshkumar B. Patel, a 48-year-old man who neighborhood children call “Rocky.”

Patel, of Canton, 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. .

The girl testified before Judge Jennifer Coleman Hesson, recounting the night she was allegedly assaulted.

The girl said she and other teens often purchased alcohol at Patel’s business, the .

She said she had been drinking alcohol the night of the assault and that Patel had given her the alcohol, a can of Four Loko and a pint of vodka, and did not ask for any money in return.

The girl said she was checking her Facebook page on a laptop computer in a storeroom near the back of the store when Patel “bear hugged” her, then pushed himself on top of her making it impossible for her to leave. She said Patel then sexually assaulted her.

The girl said she knew “Rocky” and had frequented the man’s business. She often cleaned up around the store in exchange for money.

Detective Sgt. Mark Enright of the also testified in court explaining the moments after Patel was arrested, specifically regarding a statement submitted by Patel at about 10:30 a.m. after the alleged assault.

Patel admitted to touching the girl in a statement to police, but did not specify where he had touched her. He denied having sex with the girl.

“When asked if he had touched her, his response was yes,” Enright said.

Patel said the girl initiated contact, according to the statement he made to police. He said he refused at first, but then he eventually touched her, according to the same statement.

A nurse examined the girl after the alleged assault. Any results from the examination are not yet available from the Michigan State Police.

There were no adjustments in Patel's bond. Hesson previously raised Patel's bond from 10 percent of $50,000 to 10 percent of $75,000 on Dec. 6, 2011.

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