CLEARFIELD – A 47-year-old Clearfield man who was originally accused of aggravated assault and related offenses entered a guilty plea to lesser charges of disorderly conduct and harassment during centralized court Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
James Leroy Baldwin, 47, was originally charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct, harassment, both reckless and careless driving and public drunkenness. All were withdrawn except a misdemeanor offense of disorderly conduct and a summary offense of harassment.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, at approximately 7:25 p.m. May 21, a female victim contacted the Clearfield 911 and requested police be dispatched to her residence. The victim reported that she’d been choked by her husband (Baldwin) and accused him of attempting to run her over with his vehicle. She said he’d fled the scene in a 1978 black Ford “Elite.”
Police responded to the victim’s residence and met her at the front door. She was “upset and crying,” and police observed what appeared to be “heavy, red skin discoloration” around her neck and throat area. She told police she and Baldwin had been at the rear of the residence.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the accused had been sitting in his vehicle, and the victim had been standing near the front of it and her Chrysler mini-van, which were parked in the driveway. She told police he’d exited the vehicle and approached her.
At that point, Baldwin allegedly grabbed the victim by her throat and neck with both hands. Police said it’s what caused the redness in the victim’s throat and neck area. She advised he’d released his grip and reentered his vehicle.
Baldwin then allegedly drove the vehicle forward in an attempt to strike the victim. The victim was able to get out of the way, but he struck the previously mentioned mini-van. Baldwin allegedly put his vehicle in reverse and drove backwards, spinning its tires out into the alleyway next to the residence, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
The accused then allegedly drove the vehicle forward in a second attempt to strike the victim. However, she was able to get out of the way, before it struck the previously mentioned mini-van a second time on the driver’s side area, causing substantial damage.
Baldwin fled the scene via the alleyway at a high rate of speed, spinning the rear vehicle tires while leaving the area. Police photographed the injuries to the victim, the spin marks from Baldwin’s vehicle in the alleyway and the damage to the mini-van.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, at approximately 7:37 May 21, police observed Baldwin operating his vehicle. He was stopped and detained in the parking area of the CVS Pharmacy near Bridge Street. From there, he was transported to the Clearfield Borough police station.
When observing the accused, police noticed he had “very slurred speech, seemed disoriented and didn’t seem to understand simple reasoning.” Because he appeared to be in an intoxicated state, he was transported to the Clearfield County Jail and signed in on a 48-hour detainer for his safety as well as that of the victim and the general public while allowing him enough time to understand the allegations being brought against him.