Sewickley Township man rejects plea deal for rape charges
A Sewickley Township man Tuesday rejected a plea bargain in which he would have received a 20-year prison sentence for the rape of a mentally disabled woman.
Wayne Smith, 74, told Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani he would not plead guilty and asked that his case be decided at a nonjury trial in a courtroom closed to the public.
The judge refused both requests. Smith’s trial is scheduled to begin in July.
Police said Smith forced two women to have sex with him at his home near Herminie last year. According to court records, one of the alleged victims is a mentally disabled woman in her 20s who told police Smith forced himself on her after he gave her wine and refused his sexual advances.
Smith is charged with multiple counts of rape and other offenses in connection with both incidents.
Rich Cholodofsky is a TribLive reporter covering Westmoreland County government, politics and courts. He can be reached at rcholodofsky@triblive.com.
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