CLEARFIELD – A Lawrence Township police officer is in Clearfield County Jail after a judge revoked his bail Tuesday afternoon.
Matthew Houser, 29, of Clearfield, had been free on unsecured bail following an April 18 preliminary hearing for charges that he hit his then-girlfriend, a DuBois woman, on March 3.
Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. presented evidence before Clearfield County President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman that led the judge to rule Houser had violated a specific condition of his bail dealing with contacting the alleged victim.
Shaw first called George Shirey, an ex-boyfriend of the alleged victim, as a witness. He stated that on March 10, three days after the original preliminary hearing date, he and the DuBois woman were at the Brookville Days Inn at 10 a.m. when the woman’s cell phone rang.
The number that showed on the phone’s caller identification, Shirey testified, was that of Houser. Shirey said he recognized the voice on the other end, saying Houser asked to speak with the DuBois woman.
A private investigator hired by Lawrence Township Solicitor Jim Naddeo also testified to taking photographs of Houser and his vehicle in the DuBois area.
Frank Thomas said he saw Houser’s yellow truck traveling on U.S. Route 219 near DuBois on April 27. He followed the truck to the parking lot at DuBois Regional Medical Center where he saw Houser park his truck and get into a taupe sports-utility vehicle.
Houser drove the vehicle to a Knarr Street residence. Thomas also testified to the fact that the truck stayed at the hospital for 69 hours before Houser retrieved it. The commonwealth also offered photographs as evidence that showed Houser in the parking lot with the SUV, walking from the SUV to the truck, removing a parking ticket from the windshield of the truck, entering the truck and driving out of the hospital lot in his own vehicle.
Other photographs showed the SUV parked at the Knarr Street residence.
Trooper Svin Donaldson of the Clearfield-based state police said the SUV Houser drove belonged to the alleged victim in the case, and he said he knew that she lived at the apartment building where the vehicle was parked because he interviewed her there regarding this case.
Houser’s attorney, Stephen Greenberg, argued that no photographs were shown of Houser and the alleged victim together.
“You know, I would laugh if this wasn’t so serious,” he said in his closing.
“He didn’t take a picture of him entering her house. Maybe because it didn’t happen.”
Shaw argued, “The bail condition specifically states that the defendant … have no contact with the victim or family whatsoever.”
Shaw noted that he viewed the vehicle switch in the DRMC parking lot as “working aggressively to undermine the bail piece.”
“It’s kind of a savvy, slick operation.”
In granting Shaw’s motion, Ammerman said, “It certainly sounds to me like a preplanned deal.”
Shaw said he admits that it is problematic that the alleged victim was granted immunity in exchange for her testimony, meaning she cannot be prosecuted if information she provides incriminates her. He noted, however, that information she told police and her medical record from March 3 contradict her court testimony.
Shaw said the woman could be scared to speak up about what really happened, adding, “I think I have an obligation to stick up for this young lady.”
Greenberg countered, stating, “If that isn’t paternalistic, I don’t know what quite is.”
He also noted that the private investigator hired by Houser’s employer did not take a picture of Houser at the woman’s house.
“He didn’t take a picture of him entering her house maybe because it didn’t happen.”
Greenberg had no argument for the March 10 phone call.
“The only thing that’s problematic is the telephone call.”
Greenberg also stated that the commonwealth did not file any motions to reduce bail until the defense filed its own motion to modify bail conditions. The condition change they were seeking was to allow Houser to have contact with the woman.
Greenberg also claimed that the telephone call was not brought up at the preliminary hearing, however Shaw stated that the matters were discussed at the preliminary hearing. Shaw said he filed his motion only after obtaining more evidence from the private investigator.
Houser will remain in Clearfield County Jail until further notice. A motion could be filed on his behalf to reinstate bail.
GantDaily Editor’s Note: GantDaily Reporter Aaron T. Evans contributed to this report.