Emotion-filled testimony was heard from a woman allegedly raped inside her Lewistown apartment during the defendant’s preliminary hearing Friday before Magisterial District Judge Jack Miller. “He was laughing as he pulled me out of the chair and pinned me against the sink,” the woman said as she gave her account of the alleged Jan 12 incident.
The defendant, William C. Stidfole, 54, of 1111 W. Seventh St., Lewistown, periodically shook his head from side to side during the woman’s testimony but otherwise remained silent during the proceedings.
According to court documents, Stidfole’s charges stem from his alleged actions after he performed mechanical work on the woman’s van. The woman had agreed to give Stidfole a haircut in exchange for the work, but once the haircut was finished he demanded sex as payment for further work he would perform on the vehicle, documents indicate.
Stidfole and the woman previously had a relationship but had been estranged for about six months prior to the day of the alleged incident, documents indicate. They also have a 6-year-old son who resides with the woman.
In response to questions from District Attorney Stephen Snook the woman explained she and Stidfole have had a troubled relationship for about eight years, during which they they have been separated several times.
Their most recent separation occurred in August, when she and her son left Stidfole again and got their own apartment. Then a December court order awarded visitation rights for Stidfole to see his son, she said.
It was during visitation on Jan. 9, Stidfole’s birthday, that he noticed a problem with the brakes on the woman’s van, she said. As a result, Stidfole threatened to “get her in trouble” for endangering their child, she said.
Stidfole offered to fix the van in exchange for a haircut but was unable to complete the job on Jan. 12, the woman said.
“He said ‘I have to come back on Sunday to finish fixing it. What’ll you give me?’ He said he wanted sex,” the woman said. “I told him no, thanks to him, I didn’t want to be with a man any more.”
“That’s when he came at me,” she said.
The woman then described what took place as Stidfole allegedly pinned her against the kitchen sink, pulled down her pants and sexually assaulted her.
“He stayed for about 20 minutes afterwards. He said ‘I’ll be back. You know you want me,'” the woman said.
“I called my neighbor and asked her to protect me if he tried it again,” she said, sobbing. “I didn’t want the police involved. I was afraid of Bill and what he’d do.”
Stidfole’s defense attorney, Justin McShane, of Harrisburg, questioned the woman at length regarding the court order granting visitation between the father and son.
The woman said she contested Stidfole’s request for visitation because she did not believe he was a good role model for their son. However, she admitted there was a growing relationship between the boy and his father.
McShane also asked numerous questions regarding the woman’s conduct while she was giving Stidfole the haircut.
“Is it correct that at one point you sat on his lap? Ran your fingers through his hair and rubbed his shoulders,” McShane asked. “Did you tell him it had been a long time since you had a man?”
“No! I don’t think so!” she replied vehemently. “I couldn’t wait to get the haircut done! That’s why his bangs are so short.”
McShane then asked her about three people who reportedly came into the house after the alleged sexual assault while Stidfole was still there.
“So three people came to the house while my client was still there, but you didn’t say anything about being raped?” he asked.
“No. When you’re in shock, you don’t want to tell your business to the whole world,” the woman replied.
After the testimony was completed, Miller bound Stidfole’s charges of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault over to the Mifflin County Court of Common Pleas.
McShane petitioned the judge to reduce Stidfole’s bail of $100,000, saying his client had significant ties to the area and was not a flight risk. Snook said there was good reason for Stidfole’s bail to be so high.
“He’s a registered sex offender and is facing a stiffer sentence this time around due to that prior record,” Snook said, referring to Stidfole’s previous conviction for rape in 1987. “He’s a dangerous individual and he’s a danger to the community.”
Miller said Stidfole’s bail would remain set at $100,000, and the defendant was remanded to the Mifflin County Correctional Facility pending further court action.
“It’s a case of credibility regarding what she testified to today. There are multiple witnesses who will contradict what she said,” McShane said after the hearing. “In essence, this is really a child custody battle. We look forward to telling our side of the story in court.”
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