Aug 15, 2008 By The 5 min read

WAYNESBURG – A Greensboro man faces multiple criminal charges following allegations that he attempted to assault two females, including a 15-year-old, and supplied alcohol to several minors at a residence in Cumberland Township. James Gordon Moore, 45, was arraigned on numerous charges filed by Cumberland Township police on three separate occasions following a series of criminal incidents that allegedly occurred on July 31 at an Old Waynesburg Road residence.

According to court records, Moore was arraigned Aug. 1 before Magisterial District Judge Lou Dayich on one felony count of criminal attempt to commit rape, one misdemeanor count each of corruption of minors and indecent assault, and a summary count of harassment.

On Aug. 4, he was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Lee Watson on additional misdemeanor charges of corruption of minors, criminal conspiracy and furnishing alcohol to minors. He was arraigned again before Watson on several more charges on Monday, including a misdemeanor count of indecent assault and a summary count of harassment.

According to criminal complaints filed by Cumberland Township police, officers were dispatched to the Old Waynesburg Road residence around 10:40 p.m. July 31 after receiving a report of an attempted rape.

While investigating, police found several empty bottles of liquor at the residence and discovered that two male juveniles, ages 14 and 15, had been drinking alcohol there that evening, the complaints state.

Police said the 15-year-old was intoxicated to the point that he was unable to communicate with authorities. Both juveniles were taken to Southwest Regional Medical Center in Waynesburg for treatment related to their alcohol consumption.

Police also observed that two juvenile females – ages 10 and 15 – and an 18-year-old woman had been drinking at the residence that evening as well, the complaints state.

During their investigation, police also spoke with Joanella L. Shaffer, 33, of Carmichaels, who told police that Moore had arrived at the residence at 8 that evening and that she and Moore were drinking alcohol, according to reports.

Shaffer told police that at around 10:15 p.m., she heard the 15-year-old female yelling from the living room. When she went into the room, she said she saw Moore kneeling next to the girl who was lying on the floor, according to reports. The girl told Shaffer that Moore had pulled her off the couch and onto the floor and threatened to rape her, police said.

The girl also told Shaffer that once Moore had her on the ground, he began to remove her clothing, police said. Shaffer told authorities that she and Moore began arguing and he left the residence before the officers arrived, according to reports.

Police interviewed the 15-year-old and two other juveniles who witnessed the alleged incident, and they reported that Moore had pulled her to the floor and struggled with her to remove her clothing, the complaints state.

In a separate incident, police also talked to the 18-year-old woman who reported that Moore touched her inappropriately earlier in the evening. The woman told police that she was participating in a drinking game when she was asked by Moore to accompany him outside. Once they were outside, they walked to the back of house, where Moore began flirting with her and kissed her.

The woman told police that she then told him to stop and began walking toward the house when Moore grabbed her by the arm, pulled her back toward him and attempted to remove her clothes, the complaints state. The woman again told him to stop and ran into the house, according to reports.

On Aug. 1, investigating officers encountered Moore during a traffic stop and placed him into custody with the Cumberland Township Police Department.

During questioning, police said Moore admitted to participating in a drinking game with the four juveniles, the 18-year-old woman and Shaffer; police also further interrogated one of the juveniles on Aug. 1, who told authorities that Moore and Shaffer were drinking alcohol and was “ordering” the four juveniles and the 18-year-old to drink the alcohol as well, police said.

While being questioned about the alleged attempted rape, Moore told police that he told Shaffer the 15-year-old was doing drugs and drinking alcohol, and he “wanted to teach her a lesson of how easy it is to get raped,” the complaints state.

Following his initial arraignment on Aug. 1 before Dayich, Moore was released three days later after posting $6,500 straight bail. His preliminary hearing on the original charges had been scheduled for Monday but was continued until Sept. 10 before Watson.

A motion to transfer the charges from Dayich’s office to Watson’s office was granted Tuesday, which means that all the charges filed against Moore will be addressed during his preliminary hearing before Watson.

Joanella Shaffer also was arraigned on Aug. 4 by Cumberland Township police on misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors, criminal conspiracy and furnishing alcohol to minors. Her preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 8 before Watson.