SMETHPORT — Most of the charges against a Smethport man accused of assault were bound to McKean County Court on Tuesday. At the same time, the most serious charge, aggravated assault, was withdrawn.
Court records indicate that Daniel L. Jones, 25, of Smethport, appeared for a preliminary hearing before District Judge William Todd, who bound the following charges: strangulation, a second-degree felony; simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, both second-degree misdemeanors; and summary harassment.
The charge that was withdrawn was a first-degree felony, court records stated.
According to court records, on Oct. 25, state police received a call about an alleged assault that had taken place on Sept. 4 at Jones’ address.
The victim told police Jones had become angry at her and choked her until she felt she would lose consciousness. And when he stopped choking her, he would yell at her and strike her before starting to choke her again, the complaint stated.
Jones is free, having posted $20,000 bail.
Some charges in knife threat case dismissed
SMETHPORT — Two of four charges against a Eldred man accused of threatening someone with a knife have been dismissed.
Richard L. Gould III, 28, will face charges of terroristic threats, a first-degree misdemeanor, and harassment, a third-degree misdemeanor, in McKean County Court; meanwhile, misdemeanor charges of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person were dismissed, court records indicate.
A preliminary hearing was held Tuesday before District Judge William Todd.
At 9:19 p.m. Nov. 28, state police arrived at Gould’s residence for reports of him allegedly pulling a knife on another man, pointing the knife at him and threatening to kill him. The alleged victim said he and his girlfriend were babysitting at Gould’s residence when he went in the bathroom and saw a bag of drugs. Later, when Gould returned home, he accused the man of stealing the drugs, pointed the knife at him and told him he had 24 hours to get him $250 or Gould would kill him, the court records stated.
As the man was leaving, he heard Gould on the phone telling someone to bring a gun over so he could “take care of him,” the records allege.
Gould is free on $10,000 unsecured bail.
Some charges against Eldred man bound to court
SMETHPORT — An Eldred man continues to face indecent assault allegations after a preliminary Tuesday before District Judge William Todd.
Michael E. Murphy, 53, is charged with indecent assault without consent, a second-degree misdemeanor, and summary harassment. A charge of criminal attempted indecent assault, a second-degree misdemeanor, was withdrawn, court records indicate.
According to court records, at 11 p.m. Nov. 27, at The Farmers Valley Inn, Murphy told a woman she would have to do “sexual favors” for him, told her she was going to “pay for pissing him off,” pinned her against a wall, pulled her clothing out of the way and touched her without her permission.
She attempted to get away, and told him that she was scared. However, the alleged assault didn’t stop until Murphy heard a vehicle in the parking lot, court records stated.
Murphy is free on $5,000 unsecured bail.
