MOUNT CARMEL - A borough man has been charged with drugging three women he picked up at local bars and having sex with them at his residence without their consent or knowledge.
Barry Thomas Adams, 30, of 111 N. Market St., who was already in county jail on theft-related charges, was arraigned at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday by Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones on multiple felony offenses including rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and sexual assault relating to incidents that occurred Feb. 27, Sept. 7 and Nov. 2.
He is accused of raping one woman and having sexual contact with two other females after allegedly drugging them with a prescribed narcotic, which made the victims drowsy and dizzy and impaired their balance and cognitive and motor performance.
Police said Adams had made prior contact with each of the victims on Facebook.
Adams is charged by Cpl. David Donkochik and Patrolman Justin Stelma with two felony counts of rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, a felony of sexual assault and two misdemeanors of indecent assault in connection with the Feb. 27 incident.
According to a police statement provided by a 32-year-old Ashland rape victim, Adams met the woman at Shaulinski's Bar at 9:30 p.m.
She admitted drinking a bottle of beer, three-quarters of another beer and taking two sips of liquor from a plastic cup. The woman said she went to the ladies' restroom, returned to her booth and sat down, but couldn't recall any other details of that night.
The victim said she woke up naked at 7 a.m. Feb. 28 in Adams' bed. When she asked Adams why she was naked, he responded, "You don't remember?"
After being told by Adams that they had sex, the victim said she got dressed and left the residence.
Adams admitted to police that he had sexual intercourse with the woman.
The defendant is charged by Donkochik and Chief of Police Todd Owens with two counts of indecent assault and one count of recklessly endangering another person involving a Sept. 7 incident.
According to a criminal complaint, a 26-year-old Danville woman told police she had some drinks with Adams at Shaulinski's Bar before going to Dorko's Cafe, where they consumed more alcohol. After drinking a rum and Coke, the victim said she lost all memory of the events that took place afterward.
Adams admitted to having sex with the woman at her house and giving her two Tylenol PMs at Dorko's for a headache.
Donkochik and Stelma also charged Adams with two counts of indecent assault and one count of recklessly endangering another person, theft and receiving stolen property relating to the Nov. 2 incident.
Police reported a 57-year-old Elysburg woman told them she had two rum and Cokes with Adams at the Hard Coal Cafe when she started to feel lightheaded and dizzy. The woman said Adams then drove both of them to his residence because she was incapable of driving. She said Adams began taking off all her clothes, but didn't recall anything after that.
The victim said she didn't see Adams slip anything into her drinks at the bar, but had heard he may have done it in the past to other women.
She told police when she awoke naked at Adams' residence. When she asked Adams what happened, he told her nothing happened. The woman then left the house.
Adams, who admitted having sex with the Elysburg woman at his home, also is accused of stealing $100 from the victim's purse.
On Nov. 9, police obtained a search warrant for Adams' home, where they found several items of interest, including Clonazepam prescribed to the defendant. Police said Clonazepam can cause dizziness and drowsiness, impair balance and interfere with cognitive and motor performance.
Adams was recommitted to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $175,000 cash bail on all charges and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. Feb. 27.
The defendant also waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday on charges of unauthorized use of a credit card, theft and receiving stolen property involving a Dec. 14 incident.
He is charged by Patrolman Kevin Katch with stealing a Discover card owned by Barbara Puketza from 138 S. Locust St. and using it to purchase various items and withdraw money from the victim's account. Police said total restitution involved in the theft is $1,816.18.