Man Arrested And Charged With Attempted Rape In Montgomery County

Editor's Note: This article was updated on Thursday afternoon to say that the victim and defendant knew each other, and this was not a random attack.

AMBLER, PA — A Philadelphia man is sitting in a Montgomery County jail after he was arrested for attempting to rape a woman in Ambler Borough.

The Ambler Borough Police Department said that officers were called out to a residence on the 100 block of North Main Street for a report of an assault Monday a little before 4:30 p.m.

Police said they learned from the victim that Barry Lonon, 45, attempted to sexually assault her after pushing his way into her residence.

Ambler Borough Police Detective Chad Cassel told Patch that there is no danger to the general public as this was not a random attack.

Cassel said that the victim and Lonon know each other, in that they may have previously dated, although Lonon was not supposed to be at the residence on the day of the assault.

Responding officers who were dispatched to the call say they observed redness and scratches on the victim's face and swelling to her left ear.

During the attack, police say that Lonon grabbed the victim's cellphone and threw it in an attempt to prevent her from calling 911.

Police said that the victim was repeatedly punched and kicked in the face and stomach during the assault.

Lonon initially resisted arrest but he was ultimately taken into custody and charged with a number of criminal counts, police said.

When Lonon was taken back to the police station, officers discovered a mental health warrant was out on Lonon and he was subsequently picked up by Montgomery County Emergency Services, police said.

Lonon was later released back to the custody of the Ambler Borough Police Department, and he was ultimately sent to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in lieu of posting $25,000 cash bail following arraignment by Magisterial District Judge Karen Eisner Zucker.

Lonon is being charged with felony counts of criminal attempted rape, burglary and aggravated assault, as well as misdemeanor counts of unlawful restraint, terroristic threats, indecent assault, simple assault, resisting arrest and false imprisonment.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for early next month.