Upper Chi man charged with kidnapping, assault and rape

An Upper Chichester man is being held on $1 million cash bail, charged with kidnapping, strangling and raping a woman – an ordeal that began Sunday night and continued through the early morning hours Monday in the alleged offender’s van, authorities said.

Pete Pomante, 29, of the 600 block of Litwa Lane, allegedly coerced the woman into his van and drove to one location in Middletown where he attacked her physically and made threats against her life before driving to a second location in Middletown where the attack turned sexual, according to charges filed by the Pennsylvania State Police. The woman suffered injuries to her hands, face, neck, legs and torso and was treated at Riddle Memorial Hospital.

It was about 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 5, when Pennsylvania State Police patrol troopers were dispatched to the hospital for a report of a woman who was kidnapped, assaulted and raped by an individual who was known to her. Troopers initiated an investigation, which resulted in Pomante’s arrest.

In addition to rape and kidnapping, Pomante is charged with robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault, strangulation, indecent assault, sexual assault and terroristic threats, according to the charging document.

According to the affidavit, Pomante and the woman began arguing on March 4, about 8 p.m. The situation escalated and that is when Pomante allegedly coerced her into his van and then sped off. The van was described as having green seats and green interior carpet.

Pomante parked the van in the area of War Trophy Lane and Riddlewood Drive in Middletown, where he allegedly threw the victim around inside his vehicle, punched her with a closed fist, grabbed her hair and strangled her from behind, according to the probable cause affidavit.

“The victim related that during the attack, she was strangled by Pomante to the extent to which she lost consciousness,” states the affidavit, written by Trooper Vincent Taraborelli.

According to the affidavit, the victim also said Pomante held a carpet knife to her ear and throat, threatening to kill her during the attack.

Pomante then drove to Glen Riddle Road where he again parked the van. He allegedly continued to physically assault the woman, and then the assault turned sexual. According to the affidavit, Pomante removed the woman’s clothing and forced her to have sexual intercourse, despite her pleas for him to stop.

During the assault, Pomante took the victim’s cell phone and her shoes so she could not flee from his states.

As part of the investigation, a consensual wiretap for the recording of the victim’s telephone conversations was approved by the Delaware County District Attorney’s office.

A subsequent conversation between Pomante and the woman was tapped.

“During the conversation Pomante made admissions and statements incriminating himself,” the affidavit states.

A preliminary hearing is listed for March 27 before Magisterial District Judge Walter “Sonny” Strohl. It was not immediately known if Pomante had retained an attorney. vehicle, the affidavit