HAWTHORN, Pa. (EYT) – A local man is facing unlawful restraint and related charges after he allegedly lifted a woman off the ground and kissed her against her will.
According to court documents, the New Bethlehem Borough Police Department filed the following criminal charges against 33-year-old Matthew Alan Cordwell, of Hawthorn, in Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey C. Miller’s office on January 3:
– Unlawful Restraint/Involuntary Servitude, Misdemeanor 1
– Harassment – Course of Conduct W/No Legitimate Purpose, Summary
– Disorderly Conduct Hazardous/Physical Offense, Summary
According to a criminal complaint, on August 28, Sergeant Clark, of the New Bethlehem Borough Police Department, had been contacted by a known victim regarding an assault that had occurred the night before.
The victim told Sergeant Clark that around 9:30 p.m. on August 27, she had received a phone call from her neighbor who was at work. The neighbor asked the victim if she could talk to her boyfriend who was in the apartment next door, so the victim took the phone to the woman’s boyfriend, identified as Matthew Cordwell.
The victim said that Cordwell told the woman on the phone that he would not be picking her up at work and then hung up the phone.
As the victim was walking away, Cordwell allegedly said, “You wouldn’t want people to think we are sleeping together,” and then followed the victim down the stairs to his nearby vehicle, according to the complaint.
Corwell allegedly told woman to hold on, then walked over, lifted the victim up off the ground, and started kissing her neck, the complaint states.
The know woman said that she attempted to call 9-1-1 but was unsuccessful.
The victim said Cordwell put her back on the ground and said, ”Now you have something to think about when you touch yourself tonight,” according to the complaint.
The victim then walked to her apartment and told her boyfriend about the incident.
Sergeant Clark also made contact with Cordwell and his girlfriend.
Cordwell told Sergeant Clark that the known woman came over around 9:30 p.m., so he could speak to his girlfriend on the phone. He said the known woman had immediately left his house.
Cordwell said that he knew the police were going to be coming because the known woman said she would be contacting law enforcement.
The victim provided a written statement.
Cordwell came to the New Bethlehem Police Department on December 4 to be interviewed by Sergeant Clark and Chief Malnofsky.
Cordwell said that he may have picked the known woman up and gave her a hug but cannot remember. He also said that he was not sure if he kissed her or not, the complaint states.
Cordwell agreed to a polygraph test, and Corporal Higgins, of Troop C of Punxsutawney, administered the test on December 11 at 10:00 a.m.
According to the complaint, the polygraph questions were found “to be generally consistent with a Deception Indicated result.”
After the polygraph, Cordwell allegedly apologized for lying and said that he did kiss her and lifted her up, the complaint states.
A written statement was obtained.
Cordwell faces a preliminary arraignment at 11:15 a.m. on Monday, January 14, in front of Judge Miller.
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