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Realizing that Anthony Fred Benson had no place to go, a woman agreed to allow the 62-year-old man to stay with her for a few days in her Williamsport apartment in early July, according to court records. However, during his stay on the morning of July 9, Benson woke the woman up, grabbed her by the throat and proceeded to sexually assault her, city police alleged in an affidavit. At one point, Benson, of 513 Edwin St., "put so much pressure on the woman's throat that she was struggling to breathe," the affidavit stated. During the assault, Benson "slammed the victim's face into his chest," police were told. "Because of Benson's physical control of her" as well as fearing what more he might do to her, the woman was prevented from leaving her apartment for a period of time, police alleged. She did eventually break free and notify police.
After officers interviewed her, they went to her apartment near West Third and Park streets, where they found Benson asleep. He has since been arraigned before District Judge Christian Frey on numerous felonies including rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, strangulation as well as misdemeanor indecent assault, false imprisonment and simple assault. He remains jailed in the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $95,000 bail.