State College man jailed, accused of raping, assaulting woman at motel in Centre County
A State College man was arrested Monday after a woman told police he raped, attacked and robbed her at a motel in the Centre Region.
Robert C. Wason, 38, met the woman through an online advertisement for bachelor parties and private dances, Ferguson Township police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause. They agreed to meet at a motel in Ferguson Township.
The woman said Wason handcuffed her to the bed, told her he was the police and that she was under arrest, a detective and sergeant wrote in the charging document. He was accused of then raping and strangling her.
Wason put a pillow over the woman’s face in an attempt to suffocate her, she told police, adding that she fought back by biting him on his hands.
Her body had scrapes, cuts and swelling that police wrote was consistent with her description of being restrained and struggling to free herself.
The woman told police that she ran from the motel and yelled for help. Wason had her purse and phone, which was later found in a field off Whitehall Road, she said.
As the police department identified Wason as a potential suspect, a detective received a text message from him Monday evening that asked for an opportunity to “clear things up.” Wason acknowledged he was the person officers were looking for, but disagreed with the woman’s allegations, police wrote.
Wason told officers he paid the woman cash for “intimate adult relations,” police wrote. The two had sexual intercourse, but Wason said he wanted to leave the room after the woman snorted drugs, police wrote.
He then took back the money he gave her and a fight ensued, police wrote.
Wason denied using or owning handcuffs, or claiming he was a police officer, according to the charging document. He admitted to “wanting some light bondage,” police wrote.
Officers said they found some of Wason’s clothing in the motel room, as well as a pair of handcuffs, condoms and a motel receipt in his vehicle. One set of handcuffs had what appeared to be blood on them, police wrote.
No defense lawyer was listed Tuesday.
Wason was charged with felony counts of rape, aggravated assault, sexual assault, strangulation and robbery. He was also charged with misdemeanor counts of simple assault, false imprisonment and impersonating a public servant.
He was arraigned Tuesday by District Judge Don Hahn. Bail was set at $135,000, which Wason did not post. He is incarcerated at the Centre County Correctional Facility.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 9.
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