Hearing continued for Somerset man
A preliminary hearing for a Somerset Township man accused of hitting his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach with a pickax in December had his hearing continued Tuesday at the request of an assistant Washington County district attorney.
Chad Anthony DeJohn, 35, of Eighty Four, who is accused of assaulting the 33-year-old woman Dec. 11 at her home on Main Street in Ellsworth, had been scheduled for a hearing before District Judge Curtis Thompson on charges of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment.
Police were called to the woman’s home just before 10 p.m. that day. She told police an argument with DeJohn escalated to the point he hit her in the stomach with a portion of a pickax.
The woman was crying and indicated she was scared of DeJohn, who reportedly fled before troopers arrived.
Police said she was reluctant to discuss the matter. A trooper saw a clump of her hair was on the floor in the bedroom, and she had a small cut near her left eye. Police also saw a scratch on her right forearm and a red mark on her foot. Police did not indicate if she received medical treatment.
Before the scheduled start of the hearing Tuesday, the alleged victim approached DeJohn’s attorney, Tyler DeLuco, and spoke with him in the courtroom. After learning there might be an issue with the case, the nature of which was not disclosed, the court contacted the district attorney’s office, and a decision was made to continue the hearing until 11 a.m. March 1 so an assistant district attorney can be present to review the case, Thompson said. At many preliminary hearings, the prosecution’s case is presented by the arresting officer, and an assistant district attorney is present only if requested by police.
The alleged victim told Thompson she has lost her patience with the continuances.
“If the DA wanted to be here, why didn’t they show up today?” she asked.
Thompson told her once charges are filed, the district attorney’s office is in charge of the case.
DeLuco voiced his objection to the postponement.
Court records show this is the second time DeJohn was accused of assaulting his girlfriend. He was arrested by North Strabane Township police after an incident on Route 519 last June 4. Those charges were withdrawn at his June 20 preliminary hearing.
DeJohn remains in Washington County jail on $500,000 bond.