BURNSIDE TWP., Pa. (EYT) – An area man is accused of choking and striking a woman during a violent domestic altercation.
Court documents indicate the Punxsutawney-based State Police filed criminal charges against 47-year-old William R. Winkelman, of Cherry Tree.
According to a criminal complaint released to exploreJeffersonPA.com on April 14, a known woman arrived at the Punxsutawney-base State Police barracks to report a domestic incident around 10:45 a.m. on March 11. The woman reported she awoke with William R. Winkelman standing over her, screaming at her. The woman said he then got on top of her and continued to yell. She reported she then got out from under him and locked herself in the bathroom.
On April 9, Punxsutawney-based State Police were contacted by an employee at Penn Highlands Elk regarding the same known woman in the Emergency Room due to pain in her throat.
Police then interviewed the victim at the hospital. She reported that she had been in a physical altercation with Winkelman. The victim told police they were arguing when Winkelman threw an empty pan at her, then charged at her. She said she fled toward the attic door and ran upstairs, but when she was two steps from the top, Winkelman dragged her back down by her leg and began choking her on the kitchen floor.
According to the complaint, the victim said she struggled, and Winkelman kept squeezing, but she was eventually able to get to her stomach. She told police she was “begging him not to kill her,” and reported he said, “today was the day he’d kill me,” with his hand still on her throat. She said he then punched her in the back. She reported she had bruises on her arms, legs, and back.
The complaint notes the victim also had bruising to the cartilage of her throat, as well as a scratch on her thigh from being pulled down the stairs.
Winkelman was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Patrick N. Ford at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, April 10, on the following charges:
– Strangulation – Applying Pressure to Throat or Neck, Felony 2
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
– Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary
Unable to post $25,000.00 monetary bail, he was lodged in the Clearfield County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22, with Judge Ford presiding.
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