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Bail Increased to $75,000 For Man Who Allegedly Raped Co-Worker at Pet Spa

By Andrea Swalec | June 27, 2012 3:03pm | Updated on June 27, 2012 4:09pm
The West 13th Street location of Biscuits & Bath was the site of a reported rape May 26, 2012, according to court documents.
The West 13th Street location of Biscuits & Bath was the site of a reported rape May 26, 2012, according to court documents.
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DNAinfo/Andrea Swalec

MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — The 21-year-old accused of raping a coworker at a Greenwich Village location of the high-end dog spa Biscuits & Bath last month was indicted Wednesday and had his bail increased after prosecutors said new evidence shows his alleged crime was more heinous than previously thought. 

Vincent Lopez was indicted on rape and new sexual abuse charges and Supreme Court Justice Maxwell Wiley hiked his bail from $50,000 to $75,000 after the District Attorney's office requested an increase to $100,000. 

"The allegation of what happened in the case was much more violent than first presented," said assistant district attorney Erin Choi.

The District Attorney's office declined to provide details on the new evidence. 

Lopez was working at the 41 W. 13th St. Biscuits & Bath location early the morning of May 26 when he attacked a female coworker around 2:30 a.m., according to the criminal complaint.

While the terrified victim tried to push Lopez away from her, he punched her in the face, ripped her clothes off and assaulted her, the complaint said. 

The victim locked herself in a bathroom after the attack and called police, sparking a manhunt that led to Lopez's arrest on East 123rd Street May 29, court records show. 

Lopez, who is being held on Rikers Island, was initially charged with one felony count of first-degree rape. A felony count of sexual abuse with forcible compulsion was added to the charges June 18, court records show. 

Lopez's attorney, David Liebman, did not immediately return an inquiry about the new charge. 

The stone-faced self-described "dog care supervisor" was brought into the courtroom in handcuffs wearing jeans and a white t-shirt, with his long brown hair tied into a bun at the nape of his neck. 

He spoke only to say "not guilty" when Wiley stated the charges against him, and waved to family members as he was escorted out of the courtroom. 

Lopez is due in court again August 8. 

Irene Plagianos contributed reporting.