Phila. man charged with rape, sex assault of 2 women

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police say they have charged a man with sexually assaulting two women in separate incidents in which he offered to help them find a job.

The first incident happened in January, when police say 31-year-old Irvin Harper approached a 19-year-old woman at Germantown & Chelten Avenues and offered to help her find a job in the cleaning services field.

He led her to a home, police said, where he alleged told her to remove her clothes. She questioned him, police say, at which time he pulled out a gun and sexually assaulted her.

Harper contacted her again a few days later and forced her into a "non-consensual sexual encounter," police said.

After a third incident, police say the woman contacted police.

Then, on October 16, police say Harper approached a 21-year-old woman at Germantown and Armat Street, again offering to help her find a job.

She got into his car and went to a home in South Philadelphia, police say, at which time Harper told her to undress. She began to cry, police say, and Harper allegedly told her she "wasn't leaving until he was done."

Police executed a search warrant on Harper's home in the 600 block of Federal Street on Thursday, and he was arrested.

Harper is charged with Rape, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, Sexual Assault, Terroristic Threats, Weapon Violations and related offenses.