$2.5M bond for East Rock attack suspect

Meriden (WTNH) - A Mexican man living in the U.S. for the past two years is being held on $2.5 million bond in connection with the brutal attack of a bartender.

Jose Angel Moreno-Hernandez, 26, was arraigned in Meriden Superior Court Monday.

Early Friday morning, a bartender at the Temple Grill in New Haven told Hamden Police a co-worker attacked her after he asked her for a ride home.

The victim was first beaten in her car, then raped and beaten a second time at East Rock Park. She told police she played dead to stop the vicious attack.

Moreno-Hernandez was arrested for the crime Friday and held on a millions dollar bond. His bond was raised to $2.5 million due to the extreme serious and nothing less than monstrous circumstances of the crime, the judge said.

Members of the victim's family were in court for the proceeding, but did not speak.

It was not immediately known if Moreno-Hernandez was living in the U.S. legally.

He was represented in court by a public defender. A translator was also in court to explain the proceedings.

Moreno-Hernandez was expected to be back in a New Haven Superior Court on April 21st.