Published: November 06, 2009 11:36 pm      

Berlin man charged with rape of mentally disabled woman

Alleged assaults occurred at victim’s residence, nursing home

BERLIN, Pa. — A Somerset County man has been charged with repeatedly raping a mentally disabled woman at her apartment and later at a nursing home where she had lived for the past two years.

Gary Lee Livengood, 58, of Berlin, was charged with numerous counts of rape of a mentally disabled person, forcible rape, aggravated assault, sexual assault and indecent assault of a mentally disabled person following investigation by the Berlin Borough Police Department.

Following arraignment before Somerset County Magisterial District Justice Douglas M. Bell, Livengood was released after posting $10,000 bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday, according to a court official.

Police said the victim was afraid to report the attack because Livengood has “lots of guns and knives.”

Police said the attacks began in 2004 and continued through May 2009, when Livengood was banned from visiting the woman at the nursing home.

Police were notified after the victim suffered a mild heart attack and then told her sister about the matter.