The Altoona man accused of raping a 16-year-old Tyrone girl on June 25 waived his right to a preliminary hearing yesterday.
Brandon Thompkins, 19, and his attorney, Ted Krol of Altoona, decided to forego the prima facia hearing, and waive charges of felony rape, felony sexual assault, felony aggravated assault, felony gun possession and misdemeanor charges of two counts of indecent assault and false identification to law enforcement. The charges will now be dealt with in the Blair County Court of Common Pleas.
According to a police affidavit, Thompkins had forced intercourse with the 16-year-old girl in a bathroom in a house next to Mario’s Pizza on Pennsylvania Avenue. He, and three others, were spotted later that evening by Tyrone Borough Police in the Sheetz parking lot. While making the arrest, police discovered three firearms in the vehicle in which Thompkins was traveling. Two of the guns were loaded.
Nineteen-year-old Steven Holmberg, also of Altoona, was with the group. He was charged with felony gun possession, false identification to law enforcement, possessing an instrument of crime and possession of prohibited weapons.
He appeared without council yesterday and requested District Magistrate Fred Miller to continue his case until he could find legal representation. Miller said a continuance was granted when Holmberg was arraigned, thus denying Holmberg’s request.
A hearing was held to determine if enough evidence was presented to prove a prima facia case against Holmberg. A charge of possessing an instrument of crime was dismissed by the court; however, Miller found enough evidence to send the gun possession and possession prohibited weapons to the Blair County Court of Common Pleas.
Anye Johnson, 20, of Altoona, represented by court-appointed council Karen Muir of State College, waived charges of felony gun possession, possessing an instrument of crime and possession of prohibited weapons.
Alycia Pierce, 18, of Gallitzen, represented by court-appointed council Donley Logue of Bedford, waived charges of felony gun possession, possessing an instrument of crime and possession of prohibited weapons.
