Aug 24, 2018 4 min read

A Chartiers Township man faces new criminal charges stemming from events Thursday afternoon, when he allegedly attempted to punch a deputy who was trying to take him into custody and threatened the deputy and his colleagues in a Washington County courtroom.

County sheriff’s deputies charged Richard S. Pustovrh, 28, Friday with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and harassment.

Following a decision by Common Pleas Judge Valarie Costanzo to revoke his bond because he allegedly violated conditions by contacting Danielle Casper, the alleged victim in a pending case against him, court papers said Pustovrh told a deputy who asked him to empty his pockets he would “beat his (expletive)” and kill him.

Then, “Pustovrh took a swing at Deputy (Darrin) Patterson and was immediately taken to the ground by deputies,” according to charging papers prepared by Patterson and Deputy Anthony Mosco. The papers were filed in District Judge Robert Redlinger’s office.

Pustovrh allegedly ignored commands to put his hands behind his back so deputies could handcuff him, and a deputy used the “drive stun” function of a stun gun on Pustovrh twice before deputies got the cuffs on him, court papers said.

Deputies escorted him from the room. Pustovrh allegedly “continued to use racial slurs and make threats” against them before he was put in a waiting vehicle, charging papers said. At that point, he allegedly threatened to shoot Casper in the head, or have someone else do so.

According to court papers, he banged his head on a partition, screamed and broke a door handle in the vehicle during his transport to the county jail, where he continued threatening the deputies.

“I just think it was a highly emotional, highly charged case from an ongoing neighbor dispute,” said Assistant Public Defender Adam Yarussi, who represents Pustovrh.

Pustovrh lives on the Pine Avenue property next to the one that belonged to Casper’s deceased father. Casper maintains the property.

In the previous case, Pustovrh is charged with a count of terroristic threats.

Chartiers police said in court papers Casper and a witness told them Pustovrh called her an obscene name and threatened her during an argument that ensued March 6 when Casper and a witness were on the property to photograph damage they claimed Pustovrh caused with a tractor.

Apparently in reference to a previous altercation they had, he allegedly told Casper, “I’m going to (expletive) kill you, and this time I’m not going to let my uncle pull me off you until you are dead,” according to court papers.

Yarussi said his client “definitely maintains his innocence” and denies the allegations. In a filing seeking dismissal of the first case, Yarussi had argued that any statements his client had made “were spur-of-the-moment statements since there was a verbal dispute between neighbors.”

To support his request, which is pending, Yarussi cited a Superior Court ruling that distinguished such threats that “reflect transitory anger” from a “settled purpose” to terrorize someone.

Yarussi said he expects to ask to withdraw as Pustovrh’s attorney because he was a witness to the events Thursday. Pustovrh would then have to hire a private attorney or ask the court to appoint conflict counsel.

Court records show Pustovrh was free on nonmonetary bond before Costanzo made this week’s ruling.

Assistant District Attorney Rachel Wheeler filed a motion Aug. 8 asking Costanzo to revoke Pustovrh’s bond.

Pustovrh allegedly “contacted, threatened and harassed” the victim on three occasions in June and then on a fourth in August, according to Wheeler’s motion.

During the hearing, the defense disputed the allegations that prompted Wheeler’s request.