Harmar man arrested, charged with rape, sexual assault

A Harmar man charged with rape in connection with an incident in January has been arrested, Allegheny County authorities say.

James Michael Tessauro, 38, was arrested and arraigned Monday evening, according to Mike Manko, Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office spokesman.

Manko said he couldn’t say more about the case.

Police last week issued an arrest warrant for Tessauro.

The alleged victim told police Tessauro came to her house Jan. 23 and they spoke outside, where Tessauro began to sexually assault her. Tessauro then followed the woman inside, where he raped her, police said. The woman told police she didn’t yell for help because her children were asleep inside the house, and she didn’t want to alarm them, according to the court documents.

The Tribune-Review doesn’t identify alleged victims in sexual assault cases.

The woman reported the assault to Springdale Township police in February and was interviewed by county police detectives the same month. She told detectives she didn’t call the police sooner because she was afraid of Tessauro and others finding out about the allegations, court documents said.

The woman told authorities Tessauro said he would be leaving town the day after the alleged assault to travel to Texas.

Tessauro faces felony charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, burglary, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and misdemeanor charges of simple assault and indecent exposure.