Second Man Is in Custody, Charged With Rape of Slatington Teenager

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

A second man is in custody for allegedly raping a Slatington teenager, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Slatington Acting Police Chief William Borst.

Jacquan Tanasse, 18, also of Slatington, Turned himself in, according to law enforcement. He has been charged with multiple crimes and is being held in Lehigh County Prison, bail set at $400,000.

Tristan Richard Zawick, 22, of Whitehall Township was charged after the incident Friday, according to an earlier statement.

The accuser, a teenager, has not been identified. She told police she had a cord wrapped around her wrists and was raped.

The facts, from Holihan and Borst:

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Feb. 10, 2025
District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Slatington Acting Police Chief William Borst announce a second man is in custody in a rape investigation.
Jacquan Tanasse, DOB 07/27/2006, of Slatington, is charged with Rape, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, and Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Rape, felonies of the first degree; Strangulation, Sexual Assault, and Unlawful Restraint felonies of the second degree; and a misdemeanor charge of Indecent Assault.
Tanasse turned himself in today and is in Lehigh County Jail under $400,000 bail. His preliminary
hearing is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. Feb. 18, 2025.
Also charged in this investigation is Tristan Richard Zawick, DOB 1/20/2003, of Whitehall.
This investigation remains ongoing.
Just before 7 p.m. on Feb. 7, 2025, police were called to a home in the 200 block of Walnut Street in Slatington.
A female teen whose name and exact age will not be released was located in the basement of the home.
The victim told police she had been raped by Zawick and Tanasse.
The victim told police the two men raped her, physically restrained her, and wrapped a cord around her wrists. She also told police that Tanasse choked her during the assault. Zawick was detained at the Walnut Street residence. Tanasse was not present when the police arrived.
This case is being investigated by Lehigh County District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit Detective Thomas Galloway and the Slatington Police Department and will be prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Sara Moyer and Senior Deputy District Attorney Sarah K. Heimbach.
As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest has occurred or a complaint has been filed is
merely an accusation; and the accused, Tristan Richard Zawick, and Jacquan Tanasse are
presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.