Charges have been held against a Pittsburgh man accused of raping a woman in her McKeesport home earlier this month.
James Leon Thomas, 33, remains in the Allegheny County Jail on $75,000 bail following his appearance before McKeesport Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi on Monday. Thomas' preliminary hearing was in connection with allegations that he raped an acquaintance in her Sumac Street apartment Nov. 10.
In court, the alleged victim testified that Thomas broke into her apartment and raped and assaulted her while her toddler son was in the home. The woman said Thomas caused her to lose consciousness twice by choking her during the assault and he punched her in the chest.
The woman said Thomas told her during the assault, “This is how I'm going to teach you a lesson.”
“He's threatened to kill me on many occasions,” the woman testified.
The woman said she managed to calm her alleged attacker and told him she was going out to buy cigarettes. Once she got out of the house, she said she was able to call a social case worker and police.
When she returned to her apartment a short time later, police were there but Thomas had left. The woman said her child was still at home when she returned.
Thomas is charged with rape, burglary, aggravated assault, aggravated indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children, criminal trespassing, simple assault, terroristic threats and disorderly conduct. His formal arraignment is set for Jan. 15.
Eric Slagle is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-664-9161 ext. 1966 or eslagle@tribweb.com.
