Peabody man held on $20G bail for alleged sex assault

SALEM – A Peabody man accused of trying to rape a woman will have to come up with $20,000 cash in order to get out of the Middleton Jail pending trial.Kenneth J. Patenaude, 40, of 36 Lowell St., Peabody, appeared for his arraignment Friday in Salem Superior Court, pleading innocent to assault with intent to rape, indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and resisting arrest.Judge Howard J. Whitehead set the bail jointly requested by Assistant District Attorney Christina P. Ronan and defense lawyer Hilary L. McCamic.The defense may seek a bail review at another court hearing.The charges arise out of an incident in Salem on May 9 when he allegedly tried to rape a 50-year-old woman in a Boston Street apartment.The woman yelled and her roommates came to her aid.When Patrolman John Burke tried to arrest him on Boston Street, he resisted being taken into custody.He is due back in court on Sept. 1 for a bail argument.