Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced Sept. 3 a man charged in a South Whitehall Township rape and kidnapping case has been convicted by a jury of all charges.

Erik Contes, 43, of Whitehall Township, was charged last year with rape and kidnapping to facilitate a felony and sexual assault, all felonies, and indecent assault, a misdemeanor.

The jury trial began Sept. 1 before Judge Robert L. Steinberg. The jury returned their verdict Sept. 3 after several hours of deliberating. Contes faces a possible sentence of 26 to 52 years in prison, Holihan said. Contes will also be evaluated to determine if he meets the legal criteria to be deemed a sexually violent predator.

Contes’ sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 7 before Judge Steinberg, who increased Contes’ bail to $150,000.

According to the report, just after 2:30 a.m. June 2, 2024, a South Whitehall Township officer was on routine patrol in the area of Wehr Mill and Old Sentry roads when he saw a car parked in the grass on the side of the road.

The road is a residential area with minimal foot and vehicle traffic, Holihan said.

The officer said the driver, identified as Contes, said he had pulled over because a female passenger was vomiting inside the vehicle.

The victim, whose name will not be released, said she was with Contes and several other people at a bar. Contes said he offered to drive the woman home, but she had “fallen out” of his vehicle and he was trying to get her back inside the car.

The officer noted the victim was highly intoxicated and needed medical attention. A paramedic noted that Contes’ zipper was down and the officer’s body camera confirmed that, Holihan said.

Officers spoke with a witness who was at the bar and she told investigators that the victim’s home was not in the direction where the car had stopped. According to the report, the car was stopped more than 7 miles from the bar and 4 miles from the victim’s home.

At the hospital, Holihan said, the victim could not recall the details of the incident, and medical personnel noted she had abrasions on the body as well as grass and dirt inside of her clothing.

The investigation revealed that the victim had been raped and sexually assaulted and Contes’ DNA matched a profile obtained during an examination, Holihan said.

This case was investigated by South Whitehall Township Police Detective Tyler Doherty and prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Sara A. Moyer and Paralegal Rachel Bard.