Man charge in rape of disabled woman

BY STACI WILSON

A 41-year-old Susquehanna faces charges for raping a mentally disabled woman on several occasions beginning in August 2011.

Robert Gorton faces felony charges of rape of a mentally disabled person; involuntary deviate sexual assault of a person with a mental disability; and aggravated indecent assault of a person with a mental disability. He was also charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent assault of a person with a mental disability.

The Susquehanna County Independent does not identify the victims of alleged sexual assault.

According to the affidavit, the victim’s parents reported the alleged incidents to Susquehanna Depot police on Jan. 13.

The parents told police that the woman was 19 years old but with an IQ of 58 was not able to make decisions on her own.

Police interviewed the victim who said Gorton began to make sexual remarks to her in August 2011 and then began to beg her to have sex with him.

She told police she said no but Gorton would touch her vaginal area and then they would have sex.

The victim also related during the police interview that Gorton had engaged in both oral and anal sex with her but said she did not want to press charges against him at that time.

The woman’s parents told police they had paperwork from a licensed psychologist that stated she was not capable of making decisions on her own, according to the affidavit.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 22 in front of Magisterial District Judge Jodi Cordner.

Gorton is being held on $100,000 bail or 10 percent cash equivalent.