Brian Hagberg
WARREN, Pa. – A Warren County Jail inmate being held on multiple charges, including felony rape and strangulation, is now facing an additional charge after allegedly attempting to intimidate the victim with a letter.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Jail staff intercepted a letter on March 8 written by Fred L. Rickabaugh, 49 of Warren, addressed to the victim of his current case. That letter led to a charge of Intimidating a Witness/Victim – Withhold Testimony (Felony 1) and an additional $50,000 bail, according to online court records.
Rickabaugh was being held at the jail after failing to post $75,000 bail for an incident that occurred in mid-February, according to online court records.
“You’re a good woman and your are better than doing this please don’t take my life away please babe just don’t go to the hearings or tell them you want everything dropped and then I will still half to do my 9 Months Please forgive me,” Rickabaugh wrote, according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, Rickabaugh went on to write, “I can’t do this please im beg you and I will always love you but if you don’t love me anymore please still drop all and if you don’t want me or still love me I won’t bother you I’ll give you whatever you want.”
Additionally, according to the affidavit, body cam footage from police transporting Rickabaugh in February captured Rickabaugh saying, “All I have to do is tell her I love her and this will all go away.”
Rickabaugh was being held after Conewango Township officers were dispatched to perform a welfare check on Feb. 19, 2024. According to the criminal complaint, officers were shown messages the victim sent to the reporting party indicating the victim “wasn’t ok and to not send police or he will kill me.”
When officers arrived at the victim’s residence, according to the complaint, the victim would not come out and “appeared visibly shaken.” When the victim eventually came out of the residence she “confirmed Rickabaugh was inside the residence and had a knife,” according to the complaint.
Officers called to Rickabaugh, who eventually came out of the residence to have a cigarette, according to the complaint.
“While smoking a cigarette RIckabaugh attempted to flee and was taken into custody after a brief struggle,” police said.
According to the complaint, the victim showed officers bruises to her arm, shoulder, and face which she said was due to Rickabaugh biting her.
“She also advised she was so glad we showed up as Rickabaugh was going to kill her and further stated he threatens to kill her frequently,” police said.
Rickabaugh was charged with Rape Threat of Forcible Compulsion (Felony 1), Strangulation – Applying Pressure to Throat or Neck (Felony 2), Terroristic Threats with Intent to Terrorize Another (Misdemeanor 1), Simple Assault (M2), False Imprisonment (M2), and Resisting Arrest (M2) for the February incident. Those charges were bound over for court and a formal arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, March 21 at 9:30 a.m.
A preliminary hearing on the Intimidation charge is scheduled for Wednesday, March 27 at 1 p.m.
