Man convicted in Pennypack Park sexual assaults

A Philadelphia man was convictedof rape and aggravated indecent assault on Monday for two separate rapes inPennypack Park.

Robert Palen was charged with raping two different women in the Pennypack Park section of the cityin August 2010 and August 2011.District Attorney Seth Williams’ office announced Monday that Palen, 40, was convicted after a jury reviewed all the evidence and determined that in 2010 and 2011, Palen had approached both women the same way.

It had been outside of a convenience store at Frankford Avenue andDisston Street, Williams said. In both incidents,Palen asked the women, ”Ahat are you doing walking alone this time of night?” and warned about “the weirdos” in the area. He then lured them into his vehicle, Williams said.

In both incidents,Palen drove the women to a secluded area outside Pennypack Park, dragged them into the woods and sexually assaulted and beat them, Williams said. In one case, Palen fractured the victim’s nose.

Palen now awaits sentencing, scheduled for Aug. 4. He faces between 40 and 80 years in prison, according to the DA’s office.