A man accused of raping a 25-year-old Toledo woman and fleeing to Mexico was arraigned yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Neil Newmister, 31, whose last known address was in Luckey, Ohio, pleaded not guilty to one count each of rape and of aggravated burglary.

Judge Denise Ann Dartt scheduled his trial for Jan. 17.

Authorities arrested him Aug. 25 in Acapulco after someone whom he met in Mexico used the Web site of the television program America's Most Wanted to learn about the warrant for his arrest. The person who met Mr. Newmister in a bar informed authorities.

He was arrested when FBI agents called him into an immigration office and reviewed his paperwork, a posting on the TV program's Web site says.

Mr. Newmister, who was featured on the program in 2004, told the informant he was in trouble and couldn't return home to Ohio.

He is accused of breaking into the woman's home on East Manhattan Boulevard on Aug. 10, 2002, and sexually assaulting her. He was being held in the Lucas County jail in lieu of $500,000 bond.

First Published September 22, 2005, 10:36 a.m.