Court beat

Daniel W. Brecht, 47, of 16 Railroad Ave., East Smethport, was arraigned early Wednesday morning before District Judge David Engman on charges of strangulation and aggravated assault-attempts to cause or causes bodily injury with a deadly weapon, second-degree felonies; terroristic threats, a first-degree misdemeanor; simple assault, a second-degree misdemeanor; and summary charges of harassment and disorderly conduct.

According to the criminal complaint, at 9:55 p.m. Tuesday, Lewis Run-based state police were dispatched to Westline Road in Lafayette Township for a report of a female walking down the road screaming that someone was trying to kill her.

The woman told state troopers that she was camping with Brecht off Westline Road, and a verbal argument between the pair became physical. The woman, who had red marks around her neck, said Brecht choked her several times and put a hatchet to her throat, threatening to kill her, the complaint alleged. She escaped to get help.

Court records stated that when police made contact with Brecht, he told them that he was in an argument with the woman and told her he would kill her.

Brecht is incarcerated in lieu of $75,000 bail, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 14.

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Bradford man charged with interference with child custody

A Bradford man is facing allegations that he refused to relinquish custody of his son to the boy’s mother.

Shawn M. Devitt, 34, of 65 Jefferson St., was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Richard Luther on a single charge of interference with custody of children, a third-degree felony.

The criminal complaint states that on May 27, Judge Christopher Hauser signed an order granting full custody of Devitt’s children to their mother. The mother took the order to the Bradford City police station and asked for help getting her son back from Devitt.

Later that day, police found Devitt at his home, and he refused to hand over the child, “saying he would fight if they attempted to take his child,” the complaint alleged.

On May 28, the order was modified to allow police to physically take custody of the boy. On June 1, police learned that Devitt was in email contact with the counselor at the boy’s school and said he would not turn himself in or give up custody of the boy, according to the complaint.

Devitt is in McKean County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for June 16.

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Charges against man accused of unlawful contact bound to court

Charges against a Port Allegany man accused of unlawful contact with a minor were bound to McKean County Court at a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Dominic Cercone.

Aaron D. Davis, 28, is charged with three counts each of unlawful contact with minor-obscene and other sexual materials and performances and unlawful contact with minor-open lewdness, all third-degree felonies.

According to the criminal complaint, on April 22, Davis, who is already required to register as a sex offender, was sending inappropriate messages believing they were going to a 13-year-old girl; however, the girl’s mother and a Bradford City police officer were actually reading the messages.

In the messages, Davis admitted that he was 28 years old and said he knew the girl was only 13 or 14, the complaint stated. He allegedly made sexual comments and asked her to send nude photos of herself; also, he sent two photos and a video of his genitalia.

Davis is in McKean County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail in this case.

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Assault charges against Smethport woman bound to court

Assault charges against a Smethport woman were bound to McKean County Court at a hearing before District Judge Dominic Cercone.

Kelly M. Sturtevant, 26, is charged with aggravated assault, a second-degree felony; two counts each of resisting arrest and simple assault, second-degree misdemeanors; and summary criminal mischief.

According to the criminal complaint, at 4:40 p.m. May 20, two state troopers were trying to take Sturtevant into custody to transport to Bradford Regional Medical Center for a mental health evaluation. Sturtevant allegedly slipped the hand restraints and began to resist, causing the troopers to have to take her to the ground to gain control; she was kicking at them from the ground, too.

During the transport, for which she was in hand and foot restraints, she tried to unbuckle her seatbelt several times, finally doing so in the area of Jackson Avenue and Mechanic Street in Bradford. She kicked the computer, the mobile video recording device and the steering wheel while an officer was driving, the complaint alleged.

The trooper stopped the vehicle, and multiple troopers tried to gain control of Sturtevant; during the struggle, she bit one trooper, breaking his skin and kicked him in the groin, according to the complaint.

Sturtevant is in McKean County Jail in lieu of 10% of $50,000 bail.

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Assault charges against Bradford man bound to court

Assault charges against a Bradford man were bound to McKean County Court at a hearing Wednesday before District Judge Dominic Cercone.

Arthur E. Crooks III, 44, is charged with strangulation, a second-degree felony; recklessly endangering another woman and simple assault, second-degree misdemeanors; and summary harassment.

The criminal complaint alleges that on May 18 Crooks grabbed a woman with whom he had been arguing by the neck, started choking her and called her a derogatory term. She became lightheaded and could not breathe. He let go of her throat, and she went to the bathroom to call for help.

Crooks is free, having posted $10,000 bail.