Monroe man charged with rape

A Monroe County man was jailed on Wednesday, Jan. 7, for allegedly raping and sexually assaulting a woman. The incident was reported about 4:30 a.m. and occurred at the Graeber Apartments in Chestnuthill Township, according to state police at Fern Ridge.

Arrested was Steven Pietrowicz, 33, of Saylorsburg. He was arraigned before a district judge and committed to the county prison in Snydersville in lieu of $25,000 cash bail.

According to troopers Pietrowicz and a 45-year-old woman were engaged in a verbal altercation. Pietrowicz, who was intoxicated, police said, then began to sexually assault the woman and forced her to have sexual intercourse by threatening her life and physically assaulting her. Troopers said he would not let the woman go and continued to sexually assault her.

She managed to escape and called police. Troopers later apprehended Pietrowicz and charged him.