Bail continued for ex-Lynn man suspected in rape of child

SALEM – A Superior Court judge agreed to continue the $25,000 cash bail for a former Lynn man accused of raping and indecently touching a 7-year-old girl over a period of about 20 months in his Western Avenue apartment, but with the conditions he stay out of Lynn and have no contact with his accuser and her family.Jose Mendoza, 51, now of 186 Calendar St., Dorchester, appeared Tuesday for his arraignment, pleading not guilty to aggravated rape of a child as well as three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14.Judge Timothy Q. Feeley agreed to continue the same bail amount as previously set earlier in Lynn District Court at the joint request of Assistant District Attorney Melissa Woodard and defense lawyer Jeffrey B. Rubin and continued the case to Nov. 10 for a pretrial hearing.In the meantime, Mendoza remains free on bail, but must wear a GPS tracking device, live with his daughter in Dorchester, stay out of Lynn, have no contact with the victim or her family and surrender his passport to the probation department until his case is resolved.The charges arise from incidents that began on or about Sept. 1, 2009 through April 30, 2011 when the victim, now age 7, told authorities she was sexually abused by Mendoza in his 317 Western Ave., Lynn, apartment.The victim reportedly said she was digitally penetrated and indecently touched by him.At the time of the incidents, Mendoza was living with the victim?s grandmother.The misconduct was reported to the girl?s mother earlier this year. Following an investigation Mendoza was arrested and charged by authorities.Mendoza faces a potential life sentence in state prison if convicted on the aggravated rape charge and up to 10 years in state prison on each of the indecent assault and battery charges.