Monongahela Township man ordered to stand trial on child rape charges
CARMICHAELS – A Monongahela Township man accused of raping an 11-year-old girl on several occasions was ordered to stand trial on all charges Wednesday less than two weeks after he was deemed competent following a lengthy mental health evaluation.
The girl, now 13, took the stand during the preliminary hearing before District Judge Lee Watson and testified against Matthew Perry, who was seated just a few feet away shackled and wearing an orange prison jump suit.
Perry, 40, of 197 Hartley Road, was charged in June 2017 after the girl told investigators she was assaulted several times between the summer of 2016 and March 2017, including once in Perry’s vehicle while it was parked in a wooded area. He was arrested two months later when U.S. marshals found him hiding near a mosque in Morgantown, W.Va.
After his arrest, he was deemed incompetent to stand trial and taken to Torrance State Hospital near Blairsville for treatment.
Greene County Judge Lou Dayich signed an order Sept. 7 that deemed him competent to face the charges and allowed the preliminary hearing to be moved from Oct. 25 to Wednesday afternoon. Perry’s public defender, Harry Cancelmi, said he wasn’t told of the scheduling change until just before the hearing and requested more time to discuss the case with his client.
Greene County Assistant District Attorney Brianna Vanata took exception with Cancelmi’s complaint and said his office had been informed of the change.
“What’s the problem?” Vanata said. “Are you looking for a continuance? What’s the difference if it goes today, tomorrow or next week?”
“I’m not prepared to do anything before speaking to him,” Cancelmi responded. “I don’t believe Mr. Perry is able to participate in the hearing.”
Watson disagreed and allowed the hearing to proceed. Following the hearing, Watson ordered Perry to stand trial on charges of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated assault of a person under 13, indecent assault and corruption of a minor. He is being held at the Greene County jail on $150,000 bond while awaiting his formal arraignment on the charges Oct. 15.