Altoona man seeks dismissal of several charges related to incident of alleged rape
Homan claims he was in Florida at time of alleged sexual assault
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A city man accused of raping two women is asking for several charges to be dismissed, claiming he was in Florida at the time of one of the alleged incidents.
Hunter Elliot Homan, 23, was charged with four felony counts each of rape and sexual assault, four misdemeanor counts of indecent assault, three misdemeanor counts of simple assault and two misdemeanor counts each of unlawful restraint and false imprisonment.
The charges were brought against Homan after a monthslong investigation by Logan Township police into allegations of rape and sexual assault of two women spanning several incidents from October 2023 to February 2025.
In paperwork filed by defense attorney Thomas K. Hooper, Homan made a motion for the felony counts of rape and sexual assault, as well as the misdemeanor counts of indecent assault, "as it relates to the alleged victim."
The motion states that the specified victim testified during a preliminary hearing July 2 before Magisterial District Judge Andrew L. Blattenberger that one of the incidents occurred Feb. 22, 2025. The motions notes this testimony was "consistent with the statement she gave officers in her initial interview."
On cross-examination, the victim said she was certain of the date because she had electronic data as confirmation.
In the motion, Hooper gave notice of an alibi for Homan, who alleges he could not have committed the crime because he was with his family in Florida on Feb. 22.
Hooper then made a motion to sever the charges pertaining to one victim from the charges from the other victim, writing that the cases "are distinctly unrelated." The motion alleges that the charges come from four separate incidents with two different victims.
Hooper argued that the incidents "fail to show a signature like commonality in plan, method or scheme" and that an event against one victim would have no value in the prosecution of an event against the other victim. Trying the victim's cases together would prejudice Homan and cloud "the jury's ability to independently examine the credibility of each alleged victim," Hooper wrote.
Hooper also requested the modification of Homan's bail, which was set at $400,000 on June 15. Unable to pay, Homan was remanded to the Blair County Prison until July 1, when his bail was modified to unsecured with pre-trial and electronic monitoring "by consent agreement with the prosecution."
Hooper asked that the electronic monitoring aspect of the bail modification be eliminated as it was "draining (Homan's) limited financial resources and creating a burden" that was "adversely affecting" his ability to pay for his defense. Homan was suspended as a corrections officer with the Department of Corrections pending the resolution of his case and "his sole source of income is landscaping work," Hooper wrote.
Hooper argued that Homan was not a present risk to society or a flight risk and that he had complied with all conditions of his bail since his release.
Homan's next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 2 in front of Judge Jackie Atherton Bernard in courtroom one of the Blair County Courthouse.
Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.