East Liberty man accused of raping girl he met at East Busway station

A Pittsburgh man is accused of raping a teenager who police said he met this spring at an East Busway station.

Thomas Cocco, 30, of East Liberty, who had a preliminary hearing Friday, encountered the 17-year-old girl at the Homewood Avenue busway stop in Point Breeze shortly after midnight May 26, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.

Cocco offered to help the girl find a place to charge her cellphone, the complaint said. As the two neared a secluded area next to the busway, he grabbed her by the neck and waist, and raped her.

Cocco walked the girl to his apartment, threatening her multiple times with a knife, the complaint said. Inside the apartment, he sexually assaulted her.

Cocco then told the girl he would walk her to a jitney stall so she could catch a ride home, the complaint said. On the way there, he raped her again and sexually assaulted her.

The girl walked away, with Cocco following her, until she saw another woman, to whom she ran for help, the complaint said. The woman called and texted the girl’s mother.

The girl later picked Cocco out of an eight-person photo array, police said.

Pittsburgh police charged Cocco with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, robbery, sexual assault, corruption of minors, terroristic threats, theft by unlawful taking and indecent assault, court records show.

He was taken to Allegheny County Jail after being denied bail, court records show.

Cocco had a preliminary hearing Friday, court records show. His next court date was not available Friday afternoon.

Cocco’s attorney was not listed in court records.