Ambulance Worker Accused Of Rape Set Free On Bond
PENN HILLS (KDKA) -- The handcuffs and shackles were attached to 50-year-old paramedic Parker Foster when he arrived at district court in Penn Hills for a preliminary hearing on charges he had inappropriate sexual contact with a woman with a mental disability.
The charges include an accusation that he assaulted the woman in an ambulance where he worked after she told him she had never seen the inside of an ambulance before.
"Hopefully Parker will be in jail for all the rest of his life and I just don't want to see him any more," said the alleged victim last week when the case was originally scheduled.
But today, Foster left the courtroom on his own power, saying nothing, but leaving with relatives and agreeing to a reduced bail when he decided to waive his right to a preliminary hearing, sending his case to trial.
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
"He had a $200,000 bail," said defense attorney Patrick Thomassey. "I spoke with the judge and and the police and everybody and considering the facts of this case the bail was reduced to $50,000 unsecured which means that he owes the government $50,000 if he flees which he won't."
The prosecution opposed the bail reduction.
The case got a lot of attention when the alleged victim's husband last week was outspoken about Foster.
"He's just sly and this time he ran out of rope," the man said.
But Thomassey says he will raise concerns about the line between her competency to marry and the events that are alleged in this case.
"I believe this case will end with an acquittal. They're saying this woman is not competent to have sex and yet my understanding is she just got married. She's competent to marry. So seems to me to be a dichotomy there," said Thomassey.
The alleged victim and her husband had no comment today. District Judge Regis Welch told Foster he has to have absolutely no contact with the victim and if he does his bail will be revoked.
