Huron rape case dismissed

SANDUSKY — A judge recently dismissed rape charges against a Huron man accused of sexually assaulting a woman with a mental disability. Christopher T. Nawal, 44, was charged with rape and gross sexual imposition for allegedly assaulting a 26-year-old woman in September 2016.The woman told police last year Nawal invited her to take a golf cart ride on a Vermilion beach, Erie County sheriff's office Detective Robert Rieger told the Register in February. Instead, the woman alleged Nawal took her to an apartment in Vermilion and sexually assaulted her.She reported the alleged assault and underwent an exam that same day.Nawal was indicted in February and had a trial originally scheduled for Monday.The charges were dismissed because of text messages, which sent after the indictment, from the victim to Nawal. In the messages, the victim made statements "inconsistent" with what she claimed had occurred, Erie County prosecutor Kevin Baxter said. Nawal's attorney showed the messages to prosecutors.The statements caused the prosecution to have "serious reservations of the truth of the allegations," Baxter said. "In the interest of justice, we felt it best to dismiss the case."Nawal does not appear to have a criminal history, according to jail and court records.More Erie County Common Pleas court articlesReach reporter Brandon Addeo at brandonaddeo@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @BrandonAddeo and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterCHRISTOPHER T NAWAL