$250,000 bail set for rape suspect.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Gary V. Murray

WORCESTER - A former Winchendon man accused of breaking into a 61-year-old woman's home last year and physically and sexually assaulting her for more than two hours was ordered held on $250,000 cash bail yesterday.

While the woman and members of her family watched, Michael T. Bresnahan, 36, pleaded not guilty in Worcester Superior Court to six counts of aggravated rape; one count each of aggravated kidnapping, home invasion, armed assault in a dwelling, armed burglary, intimidation of a witness, and assault and battery on an elderly or disabled person causing bodily injury; two counts of indecent assault and battery on an elderly person; and four counts of assault and battery on an elderly or disabled person.

Mr. Bresnahan, who eluded law enforcement authorities for nearly a year before being captured Aug. 18 in Oregon, stands accused of breaking into the woman's Winchendon home through a second-floor bedroom window on the night of Aug. 30, 2007, and assaulting her for two to three hours while threatening her with a knife.

Police said Mr. Bresnahan disabled the telephones in the house and warned the woman not to report the crime or he would return to find her.

The object of a nationwide manhunt, Mr. Bresnahan was featured on the "America's Most Wanted" television show before being taken into custody in Cottage Grove, Ore., and returned to Massachusetts.

He was ordered held on...