Two Lancaster men charged with rape of women in separate, unrelated incidents were in district court Tuesday when both were ordered to face numerous charges in Lancaster County Court.
Jamell E. Prister, 26, and Jose Vasquez-Galarza, 35, will face counts of rape and related offenses for incidents in Lancaster city in late November, according to Assistant District Attorney Karen Mansfield, lead prosecutor.
Prister is at Lancaster County Prison on $500,000 bail charged with rape and other abuse of his ex-girlfriend at a North Queen Street home.
District Judge Janice Jimenez ordered Prister be tried on nine counts following a preliminary hearing Tuesday afternoon.
At the hearing, Lancaster city police Detective Gareth Lowe and Officer Jonathan Caple testified about what the victim reported and other investigative work they did before filing charges.
District Judge Jimenez was shown photos of the victim’s injuries which included a bloody nose and cuts and bruises to her head and body.
Vasquez-Galarza is also at Lancaster County Prison on $500,000 bail charged with rape while threatening to kill a woman and her children on South Prince Street.
Vasquez-Galarza appeared at District Judge Adam Witkonis’ courtroom Tuesday morning to waive a preliminary hearing on nine counts, including rape and kidnapping.
Vasquez-Galarza is charged with tying up the victim during the abuse.
Prister and Vasquez-Galarza are presumed innocent.
(PHOTO: Prister, at left, and Vasquez-Galarza.)
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright