Brandon Rumbaugh, a former Marine and motivational speaker charged with raping a 13-year-old girl was denied bond during a preliminary hearing. According to reporting by WTAE, the hearing, which Rumbaugh did not attend due to transport issues related to his status as a double amputee, resulted in the judge's decision to keep him in custody in light of prior investigations into his conduct with minors.
Rumbaugh's attorney, David Shrager, emphasized the challenges faced by the accused, citing special medical and medication needs, "Quite frankly, I don't know that the jail is really capable of handling that in the appropriate way. You saw they weren't even able to bring him here safely today, so he was not here today in court," Shrager stated, as per WTAE. Rumbaugh lost his legs while on duty in Afghanistan and has since been a prominent figure in the local community, speaking at schools and receiving a Commendation Medal for valor. However, these accolades now stand in stark contrast to the serious allegations against him.
The charges against Rumbaugh include several felonies such as rape, sexual assault, and aggravated indecent assault, as detailed by CBS News Pittsburgh. The reported victim, a juvenile, claimed Rumbaugh sexually assaulted her multiple times at his home after providing her with alcoholic beverages. The court documents also reveal Rumbaugh supposedly instructed the girl to keep the matter secret until she reached adulthood.
His preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for June 11. As the legal proceedings continue, special arrangements are being made to ensure Rumbaugh can attend the hearing in person.
