Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
HOGAN’S HEROES
DA lauds West Chester officers in ‘extremely difficult’ case
WEST CHESTER» Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan presented a commendation to the West Chester Police Department for the investigation and arrest of an “extremely difficult” sexual assault case, at Wednesday’s meeting.
George Torsilieri, of West Goshen, was convicted of aggravated indecent assault in July. He is awaiting sentencing by Common Pleas Judge Anthony Sarcione. Torsilieri was convicted of forcing himself sexually on a woman he had met less than 12 hours before. She told a jury that she was frozen in fear during the ordeal.
Torsilieri was found guilty of aggravated indecent assault, a second-degree felony, and indecent assault, a misdemeanor, after a trial lasting six days. The victim said that she had been asleep on a friend’s sofa after a night on the town in West Chester when Torsilieri, who was a co-worker of a friend she was visiting, forced her to have sex with him, even though she told him more than
once to stop.
During this week’s presentation, Hogan told borough council members, city staffers and residents that only one out of 100 police departments, and one of 100 district attorney’s offices, would have brought these types of charges forward and then
have taken it to trial.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment and achievement by West Chester Police,” Hogan said.
The victim woke up to find the defendant sexually assaulting her, Hogan said.
The DA praised the victim for immediately calling police and going to the hospital, while doing the “important things” to build a case, in what Hogan
said was a instance of “he said, she said.”
“The victim has a tremendous amount of courage,” Hogan said.
While accepting the award, West Chester Police Chief Scott Bohn praised his team of officers for investigating a mostly under-reported crime.
An out of state defense specialist defended Torsilieri and told the DA’s office there should not have been an arrest.