Alleged Lynn rapist released on a promise

SALEM – A Superior Court judge allowed a Lynn man, charged with raping a female acquaintance earlier this year, to go home on his own personal promise to return to court, after pleading innocent.Junno Oquendo, 27, of 137 Lewis St., appeared for his arraignment Monday morning, pleading innocent to two counts of rape as well as two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older.As jointly recommended by the prosecutor and defense, Judge Howard J. Whitehead set no bail on Oquendo and allowed him to go home on his own personal recognizance pending the outcome of his case.The charges stem from an incident in Lynn involving sexual misconduct with a 28-year-old female acquaintance at a home on Grant Street in the early morning hours of March 29.The victim reportedly told authorities she was raped and fondled twice and that the sexual encounter involved both unnatural and sexual intercourse and the fondling of her breast.Oquendo was arrested later that day following an investigation.He is due back in court on Oct. 22 for a pretrial conference.A conviction on each of the rape charges carries up to 20 years in state prison and a conviction on each of the indecent assault and battery offenses carries up to 10 years in state prison.Assistant District Attorney James P. Gubitose is prosecuting the case and public defender Tatum Pritchard is his defense lawyer.Because Oquendo was deemed indigent, meaning he had no money to hire his own attorney, the state will pay for all costs, but he is responsible for $150 toward that representation.