Bail is set at $100,000 for a man accused of raping a woman in Centralia in May.
The woman reported she was alone with the suspect, identified as Mauel Barrios Jr., 28, at his Centralia residence on May 15, 2023, when he allegedly “kept aggressively trying to cuddle with her” and trying to move her hand and head toward his genitals, according to court documents. Barrios allegedly grabbed her arm when she threatened to leave and “shoved her down” when she did get up to gather her things, according to court documents. He then allegedly “held her down and he raped her.”
The woman reported the rape on May 16. Responding officers noted they observed scratches, bruises and other injuries on the woman that were consistent with her narrative of the rape.
Results from a rape kit that were returned to investigators on Oct. 31 reportedly found “very strong support” that DNA present in the kit belonged to Barrios, according to court documents.
When contacted by investigators shortly after the rape was reported in May, Barrios reportedly “indicated he wanted to speak to a lawyer, then never responded to requests to be interviewed with his lawyer present,” according to court documents.
Barrios was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail just after 1:05 a.m. on Nov. 7. He has since been charged in Lewis County Superior Court with one count each of second-degree rape and second-degree assault.
Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 16.
