SMETHPORT — A Port Allegany man accused of stalking and strangling a woman pleaded guilty to charges in both cases Thursday in McKean County Court.
Christopher R. Ballway, 29, entered a plea in one case to a charge of stalking and in the second case to a charge of strangulation.
According to District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer, on Dec. 22, Ballway arrived at the home of a former female companion, and when she opened the door, he grabbed her throat with both hands, then tried to kiss her. Then, on various occasions between Dec. 28 and April 22, Ballway entered into a course of conduct that caused the woman distress; This included one occasion when he wrote “liar” on her car and slashed a tire, and another occasion when he left items on her porch and she found him tampering with the porch light, Shaffer said.
Ballway will be sentenced Sept. 26.
Also in court, Scott A. Canfield Jr., 36, of Bradford, pleaded guilty to charges in three cases. In two cases, he entered a plea to charges of retail theft, and in the third he pleaded guilty to charges of false identification to a law enforcement officer and flight to avoid apprehension. Shaffer said that on June 14, Canfield took two children’s tablet computers from Walmart worth about $158; on July 2, he took two hoverboards from Walmart worth about $296; and on July 4, during an investigation, he gave police officers a false name and date of birth, and he fled from them.
Nathan C. Natale, 21, of Bradford, pleaded guilty to a charge of simple assault. On March 7, during an argument about their relationship, Natale slapped a female in the face, said Shaffer. He will be sentenced Sept. 26.
Christopher W. Horton, 33, of Smethport, pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal mischief and a summary charge. On May 20, Horton struck a woman in the head and back and caused about $500 in damage to her cell phone, according to Assistant District Attorney Ashley Shade. He will be sentenced Sept. 26.
Adam C. Goldsmith, 37, of Emporium, will serve six months in the Intermediate Punishment Program for charges of DUI-alcohol and summary charges.
Brent M. McGuire, 43, of Bradford, pleaded guilty to a charge of resisting arrest. He will serve one year of probation.
Christine E. Housler, 29, of Bradford, pleaded guilty to a charge of retail theft. On April 20, Housler took merchandise from Walmart valued at $100.23, Assistant District Attorney Bridget Murphy said. Housler will be sentenced Sept. 26.
Zackary D. Snyder, 27, of Roulette, pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of a controlled substance. He will be sentenced Sept. 26.
Todd H. Stahli Jr., 24, of Kane, pleaded guilty to charges of possession of drug paraphernalia. He will serve one year of probation.
Anthony W. Furman, 18, of Bradford, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. He will be sentenced Sept. 26.
The following people were accepted into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program: Alexander R. Knapp, 21, of Smethport, for possession of a small amount of marijuana and DUI-controlled substance; Aaron L. Eastman, 39, of Ludlow, for DUI-controlled substance; and Katelynn M. Edey, 28, of Kane, for retail theft.
