Garman

A city man is behind bars on charges of felony sexual assault and stalking in two separate but related cases.

In the first case, Devon Michael Garman, 23, is charged with one count each of rape, felony burglary, felony sexual assault, felony aggravated assault without consent and aggravated assault.

He is charged with felony stalking and summary harassment in the second case.

Both cases were arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Daniel DeAntonio on Nov. 27.

Unable to post $75,000 bail in the first case and $10,000 in the second, Garman was remanded to Blair County Prison.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, an Altoona detective was dispatched on the morning of Sept. 17 after the victim’s friend called 911 on her behalf.

About 6 a.m. that morning, the victim woke up in her home with Garman on top of her, with his hands on her shoulders pinning her to the mattress, according to the affidavit.

The victim told Garman to get off her, to which he replied “we are having sex whether you like it or not,” according to court documents.

Garman tried to rip off the victim’s shorts, tearing the elastic waistband in the process, police records state.

After the victim again asked Garman to stop, he placed his hand over her mouth and said “we’re going to do this whether you like it or not,” according to the affidavit.

The victim then asked and was allowed to use the bathroom, where she texted her friend and asked her to contact the police, saying that Garman had broken into her house and was trying to rape her.

The officer arrived at the victim’s home about 10 a.m. and encountered both the victim and Garman, who told the detective that he entered the home through the unlocked front door although the victim had not invited him over, according to the report.

When officers were clearing the scene, Garman allegedly told officers that he was going to “keep trying to get her back,” police stated.

The victim was visibly distraught and was crying when speaking with police. She said Garman knew her schedule and knew when she would be home alone.

During a follow-up visit with the victim on Nov. 19, the victim and her family members told police that Garman had been following her, according to the second affidavit.

According to that report, the victim said Garman had driven past her residence and had been contacting her friends and family to describe her location and what she was doing.

Garman is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before DeAntonio on Dec. 4.