Clarion County man arrested for rape

A Vowinckel man is being held in the Clarion County jail on charges he raped a woman Thursday morning in Farmington Township.

Brian Paul Desjardin, 42, has been charged with a felony count of rape, two felony counts of strangulation, misdemeanor counts of simple assault and indecent assault-without the consent of victim, and a summary count of harassment.

He remains in the county jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.

Court documents say Marienville state police were dispatched to a home along Fulmer Drive after Clarion County 911 fielded a hang-up call from the residence at 7:42 a.m. Thursday.

Dispatchers returned the call and when a man later identified as Desjardin answered, dispatchers heard a woman in the background saying she needed an ambulance.

State police arrived at the scene and encountered Desjardin trying to enter a vehicle and leave the property. He was placed in handcuffs after refusing to obey commands to step away from the vehicle, police said..

Police interviewed a woman who said she and Desjardin were involved in an argument that morning and Desjardin tried to engage in sex with her. The woman said she didn’t consent to sex and tried to get away from Desjardin, the court documents say.

The woman told police she tried to call a relative while walking up steps when Desjardin twice pulled down her underwear.

Desjardin allegedly forced the woman down onto a mattress and again tried to have intercourse with the woman but was unsuccessful, the documents said.

The woman allegedly told police Desjardin placed his hand around her neck and applied enough pressure to impede her breathing.

Desjardin also allegedly held a pillow over the woman’s face which also impeded her breathing, the documents said.

The woman told police Desjardin performed a sexual act involving her and without her permission to do so.

The woman said she was able to get away from Desjardin and again tried to call her relative, according to the documents.

Desjardin allegedly struck the woman in her head, and during the alleged altercation the woman sustained two scratches on her chest, the documents said.

Desjardin allegedly took the woman’s cell phone and attempted to dismantle it, police said.

The woman obtained the telephone and called 9-1-1, but Desjardin took the phone and ended the call. Dispatchers returned the call and heard the woman say she needed an ambulance, the documents said.

Desjardin was arrested and arraigned, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled Tuesday.