LIVERMORE — A 38-year-old man has been charged with raping, torturing and beating his girlfriend over several hours, crimes that police say occurred at the encampment where the suspect and victim lived.
In a seven-count felony complaint, Terry Pugh was charged with torture, rape, forcible oral copulation and domestic violence, court records show. He is being held at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin in lieu of $150,00 bail and is next due in court on Oct. 28, records show.
Livermore police say they started investigating Pugh after his girlfriend showed up at a Walmart on Las Positas Road near the encampment to report the attack, four days after it occurred. She had visible injuries, including burn marks and bruises, and recounted horrifying details, alleging that Pugh burned her with a lighter, sexually assaulted her multiple times and punched her throughout the day.
At one point, Pugh allegedly put earbuds in the woman’s ear and asked her what music she’d like to die to, according to police. The woman also told authorities that he strangled her to the point of unconsciousness and that she believed she was going to die.
While burning her face, stomach, neck and other body parts, Pugh allegedly spat on her and asked, “You like that?” Police say it all started after he accused her of cheating.
Later in the day, Pugh allegedly threw an axe at the woman. It struck her in the leg, but on the blunted end, leaving a bruise, police said.
Pugh has pleaded not guilty.