Man accused of rape

SANDUSKY — A Sandusky man is facing felony charges after an alleged sexual assault on Tuesday. Antonio J. Alexander, 33, of the 2100 block of Camp St., is facing three first-degree felonies: rape, kidnapping and aggravated burglary. At 10 p.m. on Tuesday, officers were called to the 2000 block of Camp Street for the report of a sexual assault. An adult female told officers she was alone and asleep in her home when she heard unusual noises within the residence, according to Sandusky police Chief Jared Oliver. She got up and went to her kitchen where she located a man. Alexander allegedly grabbed her and placed a zip tie around her neck, which made breathing difficult for the victim, Oliver said. Alexander then assaulted the woman and then attempted to bind her wrists with a zip tie. At that point, she was able to push Alexander away and escape the residence. She then ran to a neighbor's home and that neighbor alerted authorities. While being interviewed by officers, the victim pointed out Alexander, who was in the area. Detectives detained Alexander and interviewed him, according to Oliver. Alexander allegedly made admissions about the incident. He reportedly claimed that he did not break into the home, but that he was invited in. He was taken to Erie County Jail. As of late Thursday, he is still incarcerated there under a $125,000 bond for the three felony charges. Menacing Alexander is facing a probation violation, according to jail records. On Jan. 27, 2023, Alexander pleaded guilty to one count of menacing by stalking, a fourth-degree felony. In exchange for his plea, the state dropped three other charges of menacing by stalking. He was sentenced to two years of community control sanctions, which essentially means probation. Based on witness statements and evidence of text messages, Alexander caused a 17-year-old victim to believe that he would seriously harm her, according to a state complaint. Disseminating harmful matter On March 21, 2024, Alexander was indicted with one count of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a fifth-degree felony. He was accused of "recklessly selling, delivering, furnishing, disseminating, providing, exhibiting or presenting" harmful matter to a child. The alleged crime involved a child victim and occurred in October 2023. He was arrested five days later and pleaded not guilty at an April 2024 arraignment. In November, he was deemed incompetent to stand trial and released on bond. A court filing said, "there is a substantial probability (Alexander) can be restored to competency within the statutory time period allowed." That time period is listed as six months. Meaning the time limit would have elapsed in early May. Another filing from the same case lists the time limit as one year. A message to the Erie County prosecutor's office asking for clarification was not returned as of late Thursday. Due to the new charges, Alexander's bond was revoked for the disseminating case. Domestic violence On Aug. 1 last year, Alexander was charged with domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. That case is on hold pending the outcome of a common pleas court case, according to court records. The charge caused Alexander's bond for the disseminating case to be revoked. He has a probation violation merits hearing for that case scheduled at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 11 in Judge Roger Binette's court.