A Leechburg judge dismissed felony assault charges against an Apollo man accused of attacking a woman.
James Orlando Oquinn, 29, will head to the Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas on a new felony charge of allegedly strangling the woman, District Judge James Andring ruled Wednesday.
The woman told Apollo police that she had taken Oquinn out for drinks at a bar before the two went to her house, according to a criminal complaint. The woman said she went to the bathroom. When she came into the living room, Oquinn told her that he heard someone laughing, she said to police.
Oquinn allegedly accused the woman of sneaking guys through a window, police said.
After the woman laughed at that suggestion, Oquinn took her into a bedroom where he repeatedly threw her across the room and sexually assaulted her, according to the complaint filed in the case. He continued to try to assault the woman as she tried to get away, police said.
Oquinn originally was charged with two counts of aggravated indecent assault, and sole counts of simple assault, disorderly conduct, and harassment. The aggravated indecent assault charges were thrown out during Oquinn’s preliminary hearing Wednesday. All others were held for court.
Attempts to reach Oquinn’s lawyer Charles Pascal Jr. for comment Friday weren’t successful.
Oquinn remained in the Armstrong County Jail Friday morning after failing to post $25,000 bail.
