Trigger Warning: sexual assault, gun violence, rape

A 28-year-old suspect was arraigned on March 5 in the Ravine-Narvik Hall sexual assault case.

Montelle Brown of Meadville was charged with the crime after his DNA was found to match the DNA sample collected from the victim’s medical exam in 2019. Brown appeared before Magisterial District Judge Samuel V. Pendolino for his arraignment and his bond was set at $500,000. He was unable to post bond.

“This was what we call a preliminary arraignment,” said First Assistant District Attorney Paula DiGiacomo.  “It was a notice of the charges filed against him, and (to set) bond. There are 22 new charges (against Brown), including rape charges, burglery charges, involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, sexual assult charges, and simple assault charges.”

The charges consist of both felonies and misdemeanors of varying degrees. According to court documents, Brown currently faces three first-degree counts of rape, two first-degree counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, two first-degree counts of burglary, one second-degree count and one third-degree count of criminal trespassing as well as three counts of sexual assualt in the second degree. The misdemeanor charges consist of four first-degree counts of indecent assault, four second-degree counts of indecent assault without consent and two second-degree counts of simple assault.  

The criminal complaint alleges that Brown pointed a gun at the woman during the assault. 

If found guilty, Brown could receive up to a 20 year sentence as well as up to $25,000 in fines for each first-degree felony charge. Brown could also receive an additional ten-year sentence and up to $25,000 in fines for each second-degree felony charge. He faces a potential seven-year sentence for each third-degree felony charge as well as up to $15,000 in fines. 

Brown, if found guilty of all 22 charges, faces up to 219 years in prison and $360,000 in fines.

According to online court records, Brown will be represented by public defender Mario Andrew Medina. 

Brown’s preliminary hearing, which was previously scheduled for March 19 at 9 a.m., has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. before Pendolino. 

Brown is currently an inmate at the state prison in Huntingdon, after he pleaded guilty to possessing an unregistered firearm without a license.