Man facing sexual assault, drug charges released
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Image by Journal Broadcast Group
Web Producer: Taylor Higgins
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - A man suspected in two sexual assaults in Scottsdale won't be held in jail on drug charges.
A Maricopa County judge has ruled that probable cause doesn't exist to keep 22-year-old Ryan Joseph Festa behind bars. Authorities say they found marijuana in a search of Festa's apartment.
Festa's attorney presented the judge with his client's medical marijuana card during a court appearance this past weekend, and he was released.
The court ruled last week that Festa could be released on charges of sexual assault, kidnapping and burglary. He had surrendered to police after seeing an artist's rendering that police distributed to the media.
Police are awaiting DNA testing in an effort to link Festa to the assaults of two women earlier this month.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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