HARRISBURG – A Pennsylvania state trooper who was stationed at the Lamar-based state police barracks in Clinton County, has been charged with rape and sexual assault.
Attorney General Tom Corbett identified the defendant as Richard S. Keener, 39, Bellefonte, Centre County.
Corbett said that the attorney general’s investigation was launched based on a conflict of interest referral by the Clinton County district attorney’s office.
According to the criminal complaint, Keener met the victim and her friend at a Lock Haven tavern on May 16, 2006. Keener allegedly consumed a significant amount of alcohol and asked the victim about seeing “naked girls,” which she responded “no, I’m not doing that.”
The charges state that around 1:30 a.m. on May 17, 2006, Keener accompanied the victim and her friend back to her apartment after leaving the tavern. Keener allegedly followed the victim into her bedroom, shut the door, forcibly grabbed her by the neck and threw her onto the bed.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim attempted to kick Keener to make him stop, but was unable to overpower him. Keener allegedly squeezed her throat each time she tried to scream and forcibly removed her jeans and underwear while holding her down on the bed.
Corbett said that Keener allegedly bit the victim multiple times on her neck, breast, lower abdomen, inner thigh and on both shoulders.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim kicked her legs and shook her head back and forth negatively, but Keener continued to bite her and allegedly proceeded to expose himself without removing his pants and forcibly had vaginal intercourse with her.
Corbett explained that Keener was about 8 inches taller and 130 pounds heavier than the victim, making it difficult to counter his attack.
Corbett said that Keener left to use the bathroom and the victim ran into the living room and immediately told her friend what had just happened. Keener allegedly returned and stayed in the living room for a brief time before leaving the apartment around 3 a.m.
The charges state that the victim became distraught and panicked after Keener left and was taken to a local hospital to be treated. Photographs taken during a sexual assault examination showed evident bite marks on her body.
Keener is charged with two counts of indecent assault and one count each of rape and sexual assault. He was arraigned before Centre County Magisterial District Judge Thomas Jordan and released on $25,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
Corbett thanked the Lock Haven City Police Department for their assistance with the case.
