July 14, 2026, 4:55 a.m. ET
An Erie man accused by Erie police of sexually assaulting a woman in a Mercyhurst University dorm room in 2024 pleaded no-contest in court July 13 to the lead charge of rape in the case.
Elijah P. Gibbs, 21, entered his no-contest plea to the first-degree felony charge before Erie County President Judge John J. Mead. Prosecutors withdrew four other charges Gibbs faced in the case, including felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and sexual assault, in exchange for the plea.
Erie County Assistant District Attorney Hillary Hoffman told Mead lawyers in the case have agreed to recommend a three-to-eight-year prison term for Gibbs when he is sentenced. Mead scheduled the sentencing for Oct. 12.
Hoffman said in court the charge Gibbs pleaded no-contest to carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Gibbs remains free on bail.
What happened in the case?
Erie police accused Gibbs of raping and sexually assaulting the woman in a dorm room in Ryan Hall at Mercyhurst in mid-April 2024. The woman told police she met Gibbs at another location and the two walked to Ryan Hall, where she said he raped and sexually assaulted her, according to information in Gibb’s criminal complaint.
Investigators wrote in the complaint’s affidavit that a review of surveillance video from Mercyhurst showed the two arrive at the front door of the dormitory, and later Gibbs leaving the building by himself.
When police interviewed Gibbs, he said the woman asked him to go back to her apartment, and while there she performed a sex act on him but said no other sex took place, the investigating detective wrote in the affidavit.
Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@usatodayco.com.