Trial Ordered for Man Charged With 2 Pennypack Park Rapes
By Justin Udo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A man accused of attacking at least two women in Pennypack Park was in court today, facing charges in connection with those incidents.
Investigators say in August 2010 and again in August 2011, suspect Robert Palen, 39, picked up the women in the area of Torresdale and Longshore Avenues and offered them a ride home. But instead of taking them home, officials say, he took them to Pennypack Park, where he beat them and brutally raped them.
At a preliminary hearing this afternoon in Philadelphia, Palen was held for trial on charges of rape and assault.
Palen's lawyer, Patrick Link, says his client is ready to face trial.
"At this point he maintains his innocence and he's looking forward to his day in court at trial," Link tells KYW Newsradio.
Investigators say they were able to link Palen to both rapes by DNA matches to a 2012 rape case in Wisconsin, to which Palen previously pleaded guilty.