Man charged with attempted rape
Staff report
NEW CASTLE, Pa.
A man remained in the Lawrence County Jail on Tuesday on charges of attempted homicide and attempted rape against a fellow National Guardsman.
Shenango Township police arrested Justin Wayne Spencer, 28, of Cabot, Pa., in the attempted strangulation and rape of a 21-year-old woman at 4 a.m. Saturday.
Both were serving a weekend duty at the Army National Guard Unit at 820 Frank Avenue, New Castle, Pa.
The woman was in her sleeping quarters when she awoke to find Spencer naked in her bed attempting to rape her, police said.
As she attempted to fight him off, she was struck numerous times in the head and face, police said.
He tried to strangle her, but she was able to ward off his attack, police said. Spencer fled the scene in his personal vehicle. He was taken into custody a short while later by Shenango police and military personnel, police said.
He was arraigned Saturday before District Judge Melissa Amodie and incarcerated in the jail in lieu of $250,000.
He also is charged with aggravated assault, indecent assault, terroristic threats, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.