Allegheny Township man accused of raping 2 girls over course of 20 years

A 48-year-old man Friday appeared to dispute accusations that he raped two girls in Allegheny Township and Vandergrift.

Eric Wright, who had been living in Allegheny Township, shook his head “no” each time a district judge read the 23 charges filed against him during his preliminary arraignment.

Wright is accused of raping and sexually assaulting two girls over the course of nearly 20 years, according to police. He also faces charges of exposing himself to a 50-year-old woman at a business in Vandergrift.

Police began investigating Wright in October after one of the girls went to the Allegheny Township police station with her mother and said Wright had raped and assaulted her multiple times between June and October, according to a criminal complaint filed against Wright.

The girl, who was 12 at the time, told police Wright would sexually assault or rape her and told her not to tell anyone.

While investigating these accusations, police learned of two other alleged victims of Wright. One was a girl who claimed Wright raped and sexually assaulted her between 2000 and 2004 when the girl was a teenager.

A 50-year-old woman has accused Wright of exposing himself to her at her Vandergrift business, according to a criminal complaint. Police said that when the woman tried to leave her office, Wright attempted to stop her.

Wright surrendered to Allegheny Township police Friday morning and was taken to the office of District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec for a preliminary arraignment. Yakopec read the charges against him in the cases. Each time she read a criminal charge, Wright shook his head to indicate “no.”

“My team and I will look at the police reports and gather evidence that shows my client in the best light,” said attorney Blaine Jones, who is representing Wright.

Peck Yakopec ordered Wright held on $1 million combined bond. He was sent to the Westmoreland County Prison pending a preliminary hearing.

If he can go to a bail bondsman to post a little more than $100,000 bond, Yakopec ordered that he must wear an electronic tracking device operated by Westmoreland County pre-trial officials.

Wright said that if he can obtain bond, he will stay with a cousin in New Kensington or at his mother’s house in Armstrong County. Wright said he has been living in New Kensington and Armstrong County after being kicked out of his Allegheny Township home.