Hampton Bays man arraigned on rape, animal cruelty counts, prosecutors say

A Hampton Bays man who was arrested in Pennsylvania last week was arraigned Monday on a 34-count indictment that included charges of rape and animal cruelty, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota's office said.

Justin Suarez, 27, pleaded not guilty to all charges, Spota's office said. Suarez was arrested last Monday in the Poconos by the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force and was wanted for victimizing two ex-girlfriends, including raping one of them in August and December of last year, prosecutors said.

Suarez is also accused of stalking the woman, threatening her with a sledgehammer and shooting a dog to death in her presence.

"He told her that if she told anyone, he would kill her, too," Spota said in a statement. "We executed a search warrant and recovered the remains of the animal and two bullets."

Suarez was charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals, Spota said.

Federal officials said last week that Suarez was arrested in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, and was wanted in connection with more than 30 counts of violent domestic crime, including second-degree strangulation, third-degree rape, first-degree harassment, first-degree coercion and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, as well as charges of felony animal cruelty.

Suffolk County Judge Barbara Kahn set bail at $500,000 cash or $1 million bond.