Pittsburgh-area war hero accused of raping teenage girl denied bond

PITTSBURGH — A local war hero accused of raping a teenage girl faced a judge on Wednesday.

At the hearing, it was determined that Brandon Rumbaugh will stay behind bars, as the judge denied him bond.

He wasn’t able to make it to the bond hearing because his defense attorney, David Shrager, told Channel 11 there weren’t accommodations for Rumbaugh, who is a double amputee, to get into the magistrate. 

That issue was one of the arguments Shrager had for letting Rumbaugh out on bond.

“We’re dealing with someone who is a double amputee who has special medical needs and medication. Quite frankly, I don’t know if the jail is capable of handling that in an appropriate way. They couldn’t even bring him here safely,” Shrager told Channel 11. 

Rumbaugh is a decorated Marine veteran who lost both of his legs after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan. 

For the last week, he’s been in jail after police say he raped a 13 year old girl multiple times in his Pleasant Hills home. 

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Investigators say Rumbaugh and the girl watched military movies together, then eventually he sexually assaulted her. 

“What I ask for is people to withhold judgment, and wait until the actual facts come out as they should in court... Versus the rumors and allegations we’ve heard. That’s why we have a court process,” Shrager said. 

Shrager argued that Rumbaugh is a well-known figure in the area and has done so much for other wounded veterans. 

The assistant district attorney fought back, telling the judge “Rumbaugh has had prior investigations into his conduct with minors, and he’s a danger to the community.” 

To that, the judge decided Rumbaugh will stay behind bars. 

“That really isn’t relevant, quite frankly, I’ve never heard anything about that. But there’s no other criminal charges and anyone can investigate anyone for anything. But, I don’t think that’s relevant, and I don’t have any knowledge of it,” Shrager said. 

Shrager told Channel 11 that he plans to ask for bond again in a higher court. 

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