Beacon Hill rape suspect held on $1M cash bail

BOSTON (WHDH) -- A suspect accused of raping a woman in Beacon Hill appeared in court Wednesday.

Police say surveillance video shows 45-year-old Anthony Williams getting money at an ATM in Boston earlier this month. Investigators say he was using a bank card stolen from a woman he had just raped.

Williams allegedly forced his way into the woman's Beacon Hill apartment and robbed her at knife point.

“It was after he robbed her…that he forced the complainant into her bedroom, again forced her to look away from him, and then sexually assault her,” said Holly Broadbent, a prosecutor.

But some are asking how this could happen. Williams served several years in prison for a 1998 rape, was released, and then charged with failure to register as a sex offender in July.

He was released on $200 bail, but was back in court in September charged with domestic assault and battery.

At the time, the prosecutor asked the judge to revoke his bail, but Williams was let out again.

Police say they were able to catch Williams Tuesday by tracking the iPhone they say he stole from his alleged Beacon Hill rape victim. Police say the surveillance video also helped because they say the woman was able to describe what the suspect was wearing.

“What the surveillance clearly shows is a man in a tan jacket with a dark-colored backpack with a construction hat hanging off the side,” Broadbent said.

Williams’ sister, who was in court Wednesday, stood by her brother.

“He’s innocent. That’s all,” she said.

Williams is being held on $1 million cash bail.