PUNXSUTAWNEY BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – Hearings have been continued for two women facing assault charges related to a violent altercation that was witnessed by two juveniles at a residence in Punxsutawney Borough.
Court documents indicate preliminary hearings for 41-year-old Stacey L Heitzenrater, of Harrisburg, and 38-year-old Ashlea D. Heitzenrater, of Punxsutawney, scheduled for Thursday, April 23, were continued, and are scheduled to resume at 9:00 a.m. on July 21.
Both defendants face the following charges:
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
– Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary
Bail was set at $5,000.00 unsecured for each defendant.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred at a residence in Punxsutawney in early March.
Details of the case:
According to a criminal complaint, around 8:28 p.m. on March 7, Punxsutawney Borough Police were dispatched to a residence on Pine Street for a report of a domestic disturbance.
At the scene, police spoke to Stacey Heitzenrater and Ashlea Heitzenrater, who each reported being assaulted by the other.
The complaint notes both women had sustained injuries as a result of a physical altercation.
According to the complaint, Stacey Heitzenrater told police that she and Ashlea Heitzenrater were in a verbal dispute, and Ashlea began hitting her in the head repeatedly. She reported she tried to get Ashlea off of her and grabbed Ashlea by the hair, but noted Ashlea was stronger and was overpowering her. She stated she was then able to push Ashlea around a little and pushed her into the wall and possibly the fridge. She then asked Ashlea to let go of her hair and said she would then let go of Ashlea’s hair. She told police Ashlea refused to let go and continued to punch her in the face and head until police arrived.
The complaint states Stacey Heitzenrater was subsequently transported via Jefferson County EMS to the Punxsutawney Area Hospital for treatment.
According to the complaint, Ashlea Heitzenrater told police she and Stacey Heitzenrater got into a verbal dispute, and she then told Stacey to leave her residence multiple times. She noted when Stacey wouldn’t leave, she said she was going to call the police and reported Stacey then attacked her, pulling her hair, punching her, and “beating her head off the refrigerator and wall.” She also reported being kicked several times between her legs and having her fingers and hand bent back. Ashlea also told police Stacey made comments during the altercation that she was “so done” and, “you forget who you’re dealing with,” while also making comments about being in a relationship with “a cop,” and saying “nobody’s going to believe you.” Ashlea reported she then asked one of her children to call 9-1-1 for help.
The complaint notes two juveniles who witnessed the altercation also gave statements.
The first juvenile reported Stacey Heitzenrater was “saying mean things” to Ashlea Heitzenrater, “calling her names and swearing at her.” The juvenile reported Ashlea asked Stacey to leave many times, and then Stacey attacked Ashlea, pulling her hair, punching her, and beating her head off the refrigerator. The juvenile also said Stacey kicked Ashlea “in the private part” a couple of times. She said she tried to stop them, but Stacey pushed her, scratching her face, and wouldn’t stop punching Ashlea. She told police Stacey mentioned her “husband” being “a cop” and said she would “beat your a**” to Ashlea.
The second juvenile reported he was upstairs when the first juvenile came to tell him Stacey Heitzenrater and Ashlea Heitzenrater were fighting. He reported going downstairs and seeing Stacey choking/holding Ashlea’s face, pinning her against the refrigerator. He said Stacey then slammed Ashlea’s head while insulting her. He told police he then went upstairs, grabbed his phone, and called 9-1-1. He also reported he continued to hear Stacey screaming, Ashlea calling for help, and Stacey saying, “my husband is a cop, the police can’t do anything.”
The complaint notes Ashlea Heitzenrater also complained of injury from the incident and drove to the Punxsutawney Area Hospital for treatment.
Both women were asked to sign medical record releases at the hospital for officers to obtain information from their records.
According to the complaint, Stacey Heitzenrater was reported to have a facial contusion, cervical strain, and multiple other contusions, while Ashlea Heitzenrater was reported to have right wrist pain, swelling and ecchymosis of the right wrist and thumb, an abrasion above her right eyebrow, and neck and back pain.
The charges were filed through Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock’s office on March 18.
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