Apr 5, 2018 3 min read

A pair of eyeglasses left behind at the scene of an alleged home invasion and violent rape early Wednesday led to the arrest of a Strabane man by North Strabane Township police.

Richard A. Betonte, 60, of 110 Alexander Ave., was the second man arrested Wednesday by township police. Benny A. Samosan, 39, of Bloomfield, N.J., is accused in a separate case of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in November in a room at the Super 8 Motel, 8 Curry Ave.

Police were called to the Strabane home of a 60-year-old woman, who told officers a man entered her home while she was sleeping about 3:30 a.m. The man, later identified as Betonte, reportedly raped and assaulted her for the next 90 minutes before leaving at about 5 a.m.

The woman told police her attacker wrapped her head in a bed sheet, strangled her and struck her in the face. He also allegedly told her he “had a gun and was going to put it to her head if she didn’t comply.”

She gave the police a description and told officers he wore eyeglasses, showing them a pair that had been left on the floor next to her bed. A search warrant was obtained for Betonte’s medical records at his optometrist’s office. Officer Nathan Terling, who filed the charges against Betonte, said the optometrist was able to determine the eyeglasses belonged to the suspect.

The woman, who did not know Betonte, also told police she believed her attacker may be a smoker and showed the officers a lighter left on the floor near the bed. Police found a rear window was opened and the back door was unlocked. She told police she did not leave the door or window open.

Terling said the woman had enough composure to not jeopardize evidence left behind by the suspect. She was taken to Washington Hospital for treatment.

Police went to Betonte’s home, where a shirt that appeared to have blood stains on it was draped over a chair. Betonte said he had gone to a tavern in Strabane with a friend, who brought him home about 1 a.m. The friend said he did not go to the bar with Betonte but saw him there. He said Betonte was still there when he left at 1 a.m.

This is not the first time North Strabane police have charged Betonte with sexual assault. He was found guilty of attempted rape, criminal trespass, indecent assault and unlawful restraint stemming from the July 1990 incident.

Betonte was arraigned Thursday morning before District Judge Mark Wilson on charges of rape, burglary, aggravated indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, strangulation, criminal trespass and indecent assault. He was placed in Washington County jail on $500,000 bond.

Terling also filed charges against Samosan, who is accused of engaging in a sex act with the girl and touching her inappropriately. The 13-year-old told Terling he had also had inappropriate contact with her in other locations.

Samosan is a Merchant Marine who recently had been at sea, Terling said. The New Jersey man turned himself in to police Wednesday.

He was arraigned before District Judge Jesse Pettit on charges of aggravated indecent assault of a child, aggravated indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors. He was placed in jail on $100,000 bond.

Both men face April 24 preliminary hearings before District Judge Jay Weller.