Ex-jail counselor faces trial on threat
A Washington County jury of nine women and three men will hear the criminal trial of a former jail counselor accused of pointing a rifle at his ex-wife at a South Strabane Township home in September 2015.
Jay S. Green, 44, of 2257 W. Belmont Ave., Canton Township, is charged with terroristic threats, simple assault, reckless endangerment and two counts of harassment.
His trial, which is expected to take as long as two days, is set to begin Thursday before Judge Michael J. Lucas.
“This is his day in court,” said attorney Christopher Blackwell, who represents Green. “He’ll get to put in his side of the story.”
Two alternate jurors – a man and woman – will observe the proceedings.
Officer Andrea Steiner of South Strabane police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause police were dispatched to 1196 N. Main St. at 8:08 p.m. Sept. 29 when Barbara Wertz reported Green was intoxicated and pointed a rifle at her.
While headed to the scene, police learned Green was entering and exiting the house while Wertz was outside in her vehicle. Their 8-year-old son was inside.
When officers arrived, they told Green to come outside, patted him down and detained him.
Police said Wertz told Steiner Green came to the house earlier and consumed large amounts of alcohol, becoming argumentative.
Green allegedly stood up in the living room and asked, “So you want me to do it? You want me to shoot you and the dog?”
Police said Green got a key to a gun safe upstairs, got a semi-automatic rifle and allegedly pointed it at Wertz, asking if “this is what she wanted,” Steiner wrote.
Green is free on $20,000 bond. The county prison board voted to fire him Oct. 14.