East Haddam man arrested in California on sexual assault charges

An East Haddam man wanted since 2010 on charges of sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor has been arrested in Tustin, Calif., and is scheduled to appear before a California judge on Monday concerning extradition back to Connecticut.

In February 2010, an arrest warrant for John P. McNally, 48, was issued by Connecticut State Police on five charges after a complaint of sexual assault involving a juvenile was filed. McNally was charged with one count of first-degree sexual assault, two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and two counts of injury to a minor.

Prior to the issuance of the arrest warrant, though, McNally fled and continued to evade police until his arrest in Tustin on Saturday.

McNally is also known by his stage name, Johnny Vibrato of Johnny Vibrato and the Razorbacks, a local blues band.

On Saturday, McNally was charged with being a fugitive in California and is being held on a $50,000 bond. The extradition process was approved with the cooperation of supervising states attorney Peter McShane of Middletown Superior Court, and the arrest warrant will be served pending McNally’s return to Connecticut.

State police at Troop F in Westbrook declined to reveal the town where the alleged assault originally took place.