12-year-old kidnapped while walking home from school in Harrisburg; black man charged with rape

[It's Africoon Month Again!]

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I Marr Finley (Credit: Harrisburg Police)

HARRISBURG, Pa (WHP) — A 12-year-old girl was kidnapped and sexually assaulted while walking home from school in Harrisburg at the end of November.

I Marr Finley, 23, of Harrisburg was charged with the crime on Wednesday, and newly-obtained court documents are revealing more about the assault.

On Nov. 25, the 12-year-old was walking home from school when she was approached by a masked man, who police later identified as Finley, according to charging documents.

The girl told investigators he offered her money for sex, which she declined. He then ordered her to follow him to his house, which she did because she was scared, she reportedly told officers.

On the way to his home, Finley allegedly covered the girl’s eyes so she wasn’t able to see her surroundings.

Once at his home, Finley allegedly called to see if his mother was home. After confirming that she was not home, Finley is accused of raping the child.

He then allegedly blindfolded her again and walked her out the back door of his house. He told her if she told anyone what happened, he would kill the people she lives with, the victim said.

She then ran home.

While talking with investigators at the hospital, the victim said she left her backpack and school ID at Finley’s home.

On Dec. 4, officers served a search warrant at Finley’s home and found the child’s backpack, according to charging documents.

Police spoke with Finley, and he allegedly admitted to having “consensual” sex with the 12-year-old and confirmed she left her bag there.

In a news release from Harrisburg Police, officers wrote that Finley was arrested after he tried to escape police by exiting out a second-story window and running across rooftops.

He is now charged with rape of a child, sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, kidnapping a minor, unlawful contact with a minor, and corruption of minors.

Finley is currently being held at the Dauphin County Prison in lieu of a $250,000 bail. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Dec. 18 at 11:15 a.m.

https://local21news.com/news/local/12-year-old-kidnapped-while-walking-home-from-school-in-harrisburg-man-charged-with-rape

[It's Africoon Month Again!]

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A Columbia man was recently convicted of raping and beating a woman in 2015.

A Lancaster County jury convicted Tomas M. Matthews on Friday of 11 counts, including felony rape and aggravated assault, after a week-long trial with Judge David Ashworth presiding.

Assistant District Attorney Karen Mansfield, who won the conviction, informed the judge after the verdict that she will seek a third-strike sentence because the recent conviction is Matthews' third for a violent crime.

Judge Ashworth, at the verdict, raised Matthews' bail to $1 million, which has not been posted.

Sentencing will be held in a few months. If applicable, Matthews, 37, faces mandatory minimum prison terms of 25 years on each count of rape and aggravated assault, per the third-strike guidelines.

The jury deliberated about five hours before returning guilty a verdict Friday afternoon to counts of: rape, aggravated assault, theft by unlawful taking, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint (two counts), intimidation of witness or victim, simple assault (two counts), sexual assault, and carrying a firearm without a license.

He was found not guilty of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

Mansfield presented testimony and evidence that Matthews raped and beat the woman, while threatening her with a knife, inside a Bethel Street home on June 7, 2015.

The woman sustained fractures to her nose and tail bone and was strangled to the point where she lost consciousness.

Matthews then stole the woman's legally-possessed gun, which police recovered from him when he was arrested that same day at Markle Park in Columbia.

Also, prior to sentencing, an evaluation will be done for Judge Ashworth's consideration of Matthews as a "sexually violent predator."

The judge will make his determination on that at the time of sentencing.

Columbia police Officer Holly Oster filed charges.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; ***@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright

https://lancastercountypa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=740&ARC=1236