EVANS CITY — Charges against a Pittsburgh man accused of raping an unconscious woman in Evans City were held for a higher court following a preliminary hearing Wednesday, April 17.

Joshua T. Dilembo, 26, was charged in February with felonies rape and aggravated assault after police said DNA evidence linked him to an incident that occurred Jan. 1, 2023. He appeared Wednesday with attorney Michael Worgul before District Judge Amy Marcinkiewicz for the hearing.

The alleged victim in the case testified that Dilembo, herself and three others had gathered at an Evans City apartment Dec. 31, 2022, for a New Year’s Eve celebration.

The woman said the group had been drinking alcohol since 7 p.m. that night. Early Jan. 1, 2023, the woman said she lay down on the living room floor and fell asleep.

When she awoke around 1 a.m., she said Dilembo had removed her clothes and was touching her inappropriately.

“When I woke up, I rolled over, and I was just crying,” she said.

The woman testified on cross examination that she didn’t say anything to Dilembo during the assault because she was scared, but she did not give consent.

The woman said the assault lasted five minutes before Dilembo stopped. She then went back to sleep.

When she awoke a short time later, the woman said Dilembo was raping her. The assault lasted around two minutes, she said.

The woman said someone’s phone rang in the apartment, and Dilembo immediately stopped assaulting her and left.

“As soon as he left, I got help,” she said.

The woman said she told someone in another part of the apartment what happened and 911 was called. She testified to being transported by ambulance to Butler Memorial Hospital and having a rape evaluation performed.

Following the woman’s testimony, Marcinkiewicz held all charges over for Butler County Common Pleas Court.