Dismissal of charges sought in alleged rape, kidnapping
By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com
The lawyer for a Monongahela man who was granted a new trial two years ago that vacated his rape and torture conviction asked a judge this week to dismiss all charges due to alleged prosecutorial misconduct.
John Yocolano, 31, was charged in connection with the alleged rape, assault, kidnapping and unlawful restraint of the mother of his child in December 2012 and convicted in 2015. He was sentenced to 18 to 36 years in state prison.
Yocolano was accused of luring the then-21-year-old Monongahela woman into his home, locking her inside a room, assaulting and raping her.
Yocolano and the woman were involved in a custody dispute and the victim had a protection-from-abuse order against Yocolano that she filed to withdraw the morning the alleged incident began. The victim testified during the trial that Yocolano had a history of abusing her.
To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Wednesday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.
