Arnold man accused of rape pleads guilty to lesser charge

An Arnold man originally accused of raping a woman in 2017 pleaded guilty Thursday to a lesser, misdemeanor offense.

Westmoreland County prosecutors dismissed felony charges of rape, sexual assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse as well as misdemeanor counts of indecent assault Anthony Chico, 34, in connection with an alleged sexual attack on June 18, 2017, in a garage at an Arnold home.

Chico pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful restraint.

“The victim was comfortable with this outcome and it was a means to resolve the matter,” said Assistant District Attorney Leo Ciaramitaro.

Chico, who has been free on a $40,000 unsecured bond since shortly after his arrest, was ordered to have no contact with his accuser but will serve no jail time or a probation term.

Chico, following a preliminary hearing in March 2018, maintained his innocence. He claimed he and his accuser had a monthslong sexual relationship and that she concocted the allegations.

“It was consensual,” he said two years ago. “I’m being framed, man. It never went down like that.”

Police said a second man, Jermane Patrick, 35, of Tarentum, declined to stop the sexual assault and briefly participated. He was also charged with rape and other sexual offense. Prosecutors dismissed the sexual offenses in November, when Patrick pleaded guilty to unlawful restraint and was sentenced by Common Pleas Court Judge Rita Hathaway to serve one year on probation.