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Brockton man accused of raping disabled woman at Norwell day program
Chiediebiere Fred Onyebiri, 39, is being held in custody following a dangerousness hearing on Monday.
A Brockton man is charged with raping a developmentally disabled woman at a Norwell day program last month, authorities announced.
Chidiebiere Fred Onyebiri, 39, was arraigned last week on charges of rape, indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, and indecent assault and battery on a person over 60/disabled, the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office said in a statement. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. On Monday, he was ordered held in custody following a dangerousness hearing in Hingham District Court.
Prosecutors allege that a 62-year-old blind woman attending the adult day habilitation program, Road to Responsibility, Inc., in Norwell reported on Jan. 8 that she had been assaulted by a staff member, later identified by police as Onyebiri, when he assisted her to the bathroom. She was taken to South Shore Hospital where she was evaluated.
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Norwell police contacted the Disabled Persons Protection Commission the next day as an investigation into the allegation began. During the course of the investigation, police learned Onyebiri was assigned the victim’s care on the day of the alleged rape, the DA’s office said.
“As a result of the investigation, Norwell Police developed probable cause to arrest and charge Onyebiri, and he was taken into custody,” prosecutors said in a statement.
According to a statement of facts filed by police with the court, Onyebiri was employed by a staffing company that worked with the Norwell facility when they needed staff.
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Onyebiri was arrested on Feb. 19. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He is scheduled to return to court on March 18.
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