Replogle Attorney Requests Separate Trials

Taylor Township Supervisor William Replogle, who is facing multiple sexual assault-related charges from two separate police departments, was in Blair County Court last week where he asked for two separate trials.

Replogle, 80, was arrested on Feb. 18 by both Martinsburg and North Woodbury Township police after two women who were tenants of a trailer park Replogle managed accused him of sexual assault.

Replogle appeared before Altoona Magisterial District Judge Daniel DeAntonio on May 6 to answer the charges. Two separate hearings were held but Asst. District Attorney Nichole Smith said she wanted to combine the cases at trial. DeAntonio found sufficient evidence to send the cases to Blair County Court.

Last week, while appearing before Blair County Judge Wade Kagarise, Attorney Thomas Dickey, who is representing Replogle, asked Kagarise to separate the two cases. District Attorney Pete Weeks asked Kagarise to keep the cases together for trial telling the judge that police documents of Replogle’s arrest along with the preliminary hearing transcripts support combining the cases.

Replogle was charged by Martinsburg Borough police with two felony counts of indecent assault and misdemeanor counts of indecent assault, simple assault, and indecent exposure after a female tenant of the trailer park accused Replogle of sexually assaulting her in her trailer and offered to forgive her rent if she gave in to his advances.

North Woodbury Township police charged Replogle with promoting prostitution and intimidation of a witness after another female tenant of the trailer park said Replogle threatened her with eviction and told her she could exchange sex for rent. The victim testified at the preliminary hearing that Replogle offered her $300 to keep quiet about his advances.

Kagarise agreed to review the arrest documents before deciding Dickey’s request for separate trials.

Replogle remains free on $75,000 bond.