Aug 9, 2013 2 min read

A former Donora man in Washington County jail awaiting trial on charges he assaulted and threatened his ex-girlfriend was arraigned Friday on an identity theft charge.

Washington police filed the charge against Joshua Gifford, 24, formerly of 580 Sixth St., after learning he had sent a letter containing his former girlfriend’s personal information to another jail inmate. The letter, according to court documents, reportedly encouraged the recipient to use the information in such a way as to result in the arrest and incarceration of the 24-year-old woman.

The letter detailed the woman’s bank account information, personal identification number, employment information and her online user name.

City police Detective Dan Rush received information about the letter from the Washington County district attorney’s office, which had been contacted by the unidentified inmate’s family members.

Donora police Superintendent James Brice said Gifford was initially charged by police with assaulting the woman. She suffered marks on her neck and chest and required medical treatment. Brice said the two were living together at the time of the assault. Donora police arrested him April 30 in connection with the April 17 incident on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. He was arraigned before District Judge Mark Wilson and placed in jail on the charges.

While Gifford was in jail, Brice said he reportedly had a letter sent to his former girlfriend that made threats against her. He was charged June 27 by borough police with terroristic threats and intimidation of witnesses. Gifford was arraigned on those charges before Wilson, who set bond at $100,000 on that case.

Gifford is awaiting trial on the Donora charges.

Gifford was arraigned via video Friday from the jail before District Judge Robert Redlinger on the identity theft charge. Redlinger set an additional $5,000 percentage bond.