CLEARFIELD – The more serious charges against Joseph A. Aveni were withdrawn by the commonwealth Wednesday at a preliminary hearing at the Clearfield County Jail.
Aveni had been charged with felony counts of aggravated assault and endangering another person, but the charges were withdrawn from the complaint. Instead, he will face lesser charges of simple assault, harassment and stalking, terroristic threats and others.
Court papers state that the charges were filed after events late July 9 and early July 10 in Clearfield.
Aveni’s girlfriend of about three and one-half years called police to respond to her home regarding the theft of motion lights from her property on July 9 at 11:30 p.m. She said that when she arrived home, the light did not turn on, prompting her to notice that they were gone.
Because she had broken the relationship with Aveni off about a week before and he had been harassing her, she said she called him regarding the missing lights.
When she spoke with Aveni on the phone, she threatened to tell police about alleged illegal activity with which he had been involved.
A short time later, Aveni arrived at her home, court documents state, and attempted to force his way in through the locked back door. The woman inside unlocked the door and left the home via the front door. She said Aveni followed her, and she called 911 to report and unwanted person in her home.
The operator at Clearfield County Control told the responding officer that the woman on the other end of the line sounded as though she was involved in the struggle.
When the officer arrived at the home, he saw two people involved in an fight.
The woman told the officer that Aveni grabbed her by the throat and told her that he was going to kill her.
Aveni was transported to Clearfield Hospital following the incident due to his level of intoxication.
While at the woman’s home, police reported listening to and recording 30 messages sent to the woman by Aveni.
Aveni posted bail prior to Wednesday. His bail was set at $50,000 straight.