Fayette judge reduces bond for Uniontown man accused of rape
A Fayette County judge has approved a bond reduction for the Uniontown man accused of raping a woman he met online.
On Wednesday, Judge Steven Leskenin reduced bond for Shane Stephen Brown, 21, from $100,000 to $35,000.
Assistant District Attorney James Geibig asked the alleged victim how she felt about the reduction.
“Uncomfortable,” the 18-year-old woman testified, adding that she felt that way because Brown knows where she lives and where she works.
The Herald-Standard does not identify those who allege they are victims of rape.
At Brown’s preliminary hearing, she testified that her father dropped her off at Brown’s residence on Dec. 22 after the two had been talking for several months on Facebook.
She said they were watching television when he tried to kiss her and when she refused, he put his hand down her pants, pushed her into the couch and raped her.
The next day, the woman said Brown dropped her off at work and said it was fun and she could come back any time; he later sent text messages asking for forgiveness.
At the bond hearing, Brown’s attorney, Shane Gannon, asked the woman if Brown had any contact with her since the alleged incident. She testified he had indirect contact through family members on social media and text messages.
She did not have those messages with her.
Gannon argued that while the alleged incident occurred in December, charges weren’t filed until May and in those six months, Brown, a Marine with no prior criminal record, never contacted her.
Geibig objected to the bond reduction.
Leskinen said conditions of the bond includes no contract — directly or indirectly — with the woman and to not leave Fayette County without permission of the court.