Smethport man jailed on rape
allegations
A Smethport man is in McKean County Jail for allegations that he raped someone early Saturday morning.
Ricky P. James Sr., 63, of 5446 Route 46, Suite 2, was arraigned Saturday before District Judge William Todd on charges of rape-forcible compulsion, a first-degree felony; sexual assault and strangulation, second-degree felonies; unlawful restraint/involuntary servitude, a first-degree misdemeanor; and indecent assault without consent, a second-degree misdemeanor.
According to the criminal complaint, at 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Bradford Regional Medical Center notified Lewis Run-based state police of a sexual assault collection kit that was ready to be picked up.
That evening, a trooper talked to the alleged victim, who related that between 1 and 2 a.m. Saturday, James forcefully took her clothes off, tied her hands behind her back with compression socks, held her down and sexually assaulted her. He choked her during the assault, too, causing her to have difficulty breathing, the complaint alleged.
James was committed to McKean County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for July 12.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police Megan’s Law website, James is required to register as a sex offender due to a prior conviction in Texas.
The website indicates that he was convicted in 2012 of indecency with a child-sexual contact for an offense that happened on June 4, 2009.
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Allegany, N.Y., woman facing drug charges
in Eldred
An Allegany, N.Y., woman is facing drug charges after she was pulled over May 16 in Eldred Township.
Melissa A. Maull, 43, of 1892 4 Mile Road, Lot 15, was arraigned Monday before District Judge William Todd on charges of possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, a felony; three counts of DUI-controlled substance, nine counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use, misdemeanors; and summary charges of careless driving and disregarding traffic lane.
The criminal complaint states that at 3:39 a.m. May 16, a Lewis Run-based state trooper was patrolling Routes 155 and 446 in Eldred Township. While he was traveling behind a car driven by Maull, he saw the car cross the fog line several times.
The trooper pulled the car over, and he could smell a strong odor of burnt marijuana and alcohol emanating from the vehicle when he made contact with Maull. He also saw a multicolored pipe in the center console, the complaint stated. The trooper asked for the pipe, and the passenger handed it to him.
Maull complied with field sobriety tests and showed signs of impairment. In a subsequent blood draw, she was found to have a blood alcohol content of .048 and was positive for THC, MDA and MDMA, according to court records.
A search of the car yielded six “blue bars” containing 3.5 grams each of mushrooms, two tea bags containing mushrooms, a plastic container of mushrooms, a plastic bag containing marijuana, three THC gummies, two bottles of THC liquid, a green bag containing an unknown substance, a vape pen and Maull’s bank card, the complaint stated.
Maull was released on $2,000 unsecured bail, and a preliminary hearing is set for July 12.
