JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) – A Punxsutawney man is facing a hearing on Wednesday on child endangerment and other charges for allegedly striking and repeatedly punching a juvenile victim.
Court documents indicate 69-year-old John M. Adduci is scheduled to stand for a preliminary hearing in front of Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock at 10:30 a.m. on April 7, on the following charges:
– Endangering Welfare of Children – Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Misdemeanor 1
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
– Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary
He is currently free on $5,000.00 unsecured bail.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred in late January.
Details of the case:
According to a criminal complaint, around 7:00 p.m. on January 31, Punxsutawney Borough Police received a complaint from a known juvenile victim that John Adduci had assaulted him.
According to the complaint, the victim reported he argued with Adduci and during the argument, Adduci grabbed him by the hair and slammed his head off the pillar behind the passenger seat of Adduci’s vehicle. The victim said Adduci then kept hitting him in the head.
The victim also noted that after they got out of the vehicle, Adduci kept pushing him. He also reported that Adduci later punched him in the face multiple times with a closed fist and kneed him, the got him on the ground and punched him several more times in the face and head.
The complaint notes the victim reported that his one front tooth had become loose from the incident and that another front tooth was cracked. He also reported scratches on his back and around his neck and said his glasses were cracked and his cell phone was broken.
Police then interviewed Adduci about the incident.
According to the complaint, Adduci said the victim was “being disrespectful,” and after he told the victim to stop several times, he grabbed the victim by his shoulder and pushed him. When asked if he struck the victim while they were in his vehicle, Adduci reportedly said he “may have,” but was not sure, the complaint states.
When questioned about what occurred after they exited the vehicle, Adduci told police the victim was “still mouthy,” and he told the victim to stop. He said the victim then called his father and told him Adduci was hitting him and said he told the victim’s father he was “just trying to straighten out (the victim’s) attitude.”
The complaint notes Adduci told police that the arguing continued and the next thing he knew, the victim threw a punch at him and hit him in the face, causing one of his front teeth to become loose. He said he then wrestled the victim to the floor and punched him in the face three times before a known female stepped in.
According to the complaint, Adduci refused medical treatment, but police did observe an injury to his left pinky finger that he said was from the incident with the victim.
The complaint states police also spoke to a known female who reported that she witnessed Aducci with the victim on the ground, punching the victim.
The charges were filed against Adduci through Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock’s office on February 1.
Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.
