A Bradford Township man is in McKean County Jail, charged for 33 alleged incidents since Jan. 1 of stalking, harassing or annoying his South Avenue neighbors.
Richard Duane Yovichin II, 58, of 662 South Ave., is charged with stalking and two counts of terroristic threats, all first-degree misdemeanors; two counts of retaliation against a witness or victim, second-degree misdemeanors; six counts of disorderly conduct, third-degree misdemeanors; six counts of harassment, three counts of criminal mischief and one count of disorderly conduct, all summary offenses.
According to court records, on Feb. 16, Bradford Township police received a report of a blue laser being shined at the residence at 666 South Ave. Security video footage showed the laser coming from Yovichin’s home. The same thing happened Feb. 17 and Feb. 23, but that day, a resident of the home was looking out and the laser shined in her eyes, the records alleged.
On Feb. 19, township police received a report from a victim and witness in a prior criminal case against Yovichin. While the resident was outside at the school bus stop with his four daughters, Yovichin activated a game call “in an attempt to harass the victims.” The conduct was captured on the victim’s security cameras, the criminal complaint read, and noted it had happened several times in the past as well.
On Feb. 20, Yovichin made hand gestures as if he were holding a pistol toward a neighbor, and made like he was “firing” the pistol,’ the complaint read.
On Feb. 25, Yovichin aimed a long gun at a neighbor as he was driving by. The victim said Yovichin crouched down, following the victim’s vehicle with the gun as he drove down his driveway and past Yovichin’s house, the complaint stated.
Also on Feb. 25, Yovichin shined a bright white LED light at a woman parked in a running vehicle across the street from his house. The woman, who was there to visit a neighbor, said Yovichin turned off the light, then she was flashed again with a strobing light by Yovichin, who was standing on the porch of his residence, the complaint alleged.
In the complaint, police detail the ongoing course of conduct Yovichin allegedly showed toward his neighbors, including 10 occasions since Jan. 1 when he has either allegedly fired a gun or pointed a gun at a neighbor; six incidents of allegedly sounding a game call at neighbors; five incidents of allegedly shining a laser or a light; five incidents when he allegedly piled snow so high at the end of his driveway that neighbors could not see to pull out; one incident of making a gun with his fingers; two incidents where he has painted things on snow banks facing neighbors’ homes; and one incident of growling at neighbor children when they got off the school bus.
Police noted that they have asked Yovichin to stop his conduct, and he was ordered to do so by the court after a prior arrest.
Yovichin was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Rich Luther, and remanded to jail in lieu of $50,000 straight bail, and was ordered to have no contact with any of the witnesses or victims, and is not permitted to have firearms. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. March 14 before Luther.
