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Former Butler man charged with rape

Suspect also allegedly tried to kill woman

A former Butler man is jailed on allegations he raped and tried to kill a woman in Allegheny County.

Ryan P. Bickford, 26, allegedly attacked the 21-year-old woman inside his Millvale home on June 6. A criminal affidavit in the case alleges the woman, Bickford and another man had been drinking in the Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood earlier.

The woman, who is not identified, told police that several times throughout the evening she told Bickford, “she did not want anything sexual at all to occur” between them.

The woman reportedly claims she went to Bickford’s home and fell asleep on his couch fully clothed. She alleges Bickford woke her and tied a belt around her neck and tightened it to a point where she could not breath.

“She thought Bickford was going to kill her,” the affidavit states.

After removing the belt, Bickford allegedly held the woman in a choke hold and punched her until she allegedly told him, “I’ll do anything you want,” the affidavit states.

The woman claims Bickford sexually assaulted her. Afterward, she claims she gathered her clothing and left, but Bickford kept her underwear. The woman, according to court records, first drove to the Butler Police Department to report her allegations, then went to a hospital for an examination.

The charges were filed by Allegheny County Police, who did not return a telephone call.

Bickford is charged with rape, attempted homicide, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and unlawful restraint.

Bickford was jailed, unable to post $5,000 bond. The case is pending in Allegheny County Court.

But Bickford presently is in the Butler County Prison on the allegations that the new charges violate his current parole here.

Bickford in 2012 pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to serve 11½ to 23 months in prison followed by 5 years of probation.

The charges, according to court records, stem from a June 1, 2012, break in at Vocelli Pizza on Route 8 in Middlesex Township.

Bickford’s prior record also includes conviction of theft and a different burglary conviction in Allegheny County.

During a hearing on the alleged parole violation in Butler County Court on Monday, the disposition was deferred until the rape allegations are resolved.

Part of the violation alleges Bickford did not report when he moved from Butler to Millvale.

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