Mar 26, 2015 2 min read

A Washington County jail guard continues to work while he awaits a preliminary hearing next month on charges he assaulted his ex-girlfriend, who is a fellow jail employee, and sent threatening text messages.

Andrew Taylor was charged Dec. 17 and accused of choking the woman in October during an incident at her East Bethlehem Township home and later threatening to kill her through a string of text messages, according to court documents.

Taylor, 28, of South Strabane Township, faces charges of witness intimidation, terroristic threats, simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct stemming from the Oct. 30 incident. He remains free on $25,000 unsecured bond while awaiting his preliminary hearing before District Judge Joshua Kanalis April 6.

East Bethlehem Township police said Taylor’s girlfriend at the time, Courtney Kubicar, called them Dec. 11 about an ongoing domestic situation at the end of their six-month relationship, court documents indicate.

Police said she produced cellphone photos that appeared to show “strangulation marks” on her neck, which she said were inflicted by Taylor. She also shared numerous text messages with the officers that she claimed were from Taylor, in which he allegedly threatened her repeatedly.

Kubicar expressed “great concern” to police about the two working together at the jail, according to the criminal complaint.

Washington County Director of Administration Scott Fergus said the county is aware of the situation and is waiting for the results of next month’s preliminary hearing before making a decision on Taylor’s status. Taylor continues to work at the jail, along with Kubicar, although Fergus did not elaborate on their roles or interactions at the facility.

“Anything else is a personnel matter with this, but he’s working,” Fergus said. “We have no problems with the two of them (working together).”

No lawyer was listed for Taylor on court records.