Prosecutor: Yosemite employee charged with raping a colleague

A Yosemite National Park employee has been charged with aggravated sexual abuse. He is accused of raping and strangling a park employee on May 31, according to federal prosecutors.

Nathan Baptista, 36, was arraigned Thursday in federal court in Fresno. said the US Attorney for the Eastern District of California. If found guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

Both Baptista and the woman worked for a company that runs the park’s catering operations. The rape took place the night the woman met Baptista, prosecutors said.

According to the Fresno BeeThe woman told investigators that Baptista repeatedly hit and choked her during the rape when she tried to stop him.

The woman had bruises and other injuries on her body and face, which were documented during an examination at the Yosemite Medical Clinic, the criminal complaint states.