Reported By: Deven Clarke
CLEARFIELD – A local councilman has been accused of assaulting his girlfriend and threatening to kill her, according to Clearfield Borough police.
Richard Stewart, 46, of 111 E. Market St., Apt. 2, has been charged with terroristic threats, simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment. The charges stem from an alleged assault that occurred late Tuesday night.
According to the criminal complaint, Stewart’s girlfriend described him as “hot tempered” after they attended a baseball game. While at Stewart’s parents’ house after the game, she inquired about a party he planned to attend. The couple then allegedly engaged in an argument over who he’d been in contact with.
Upon returning to Stewart’s apartment, his girlfriend told police he turned violent. She accused Stewart of throwing her to the ground, slamming her onto a bed, hitting her on the cheek, placing his hands around her neck and threatening to kill her.
Stewart, however, said his girlfriend’s claims are false. “None of it’s true,” he said. “There isn’t any denying that me and my girlfriend had an altercation, if you will, last night.”
The couple’s argument, Stewart said, was over a party. He explained, “The actual argument was over a get-together with some of my fellow referee buddies. She felt she should be invited.”
According to the criminal complaint, Stewart followed his girlfriend to her apartment a few blocks away after the alleged altercation. Stewart’s girlfriend also told police that he commented that “he will not get into trouble for doing this to her, because he’s on [borough] council and owns the cops.”
“She’s claiming that I hit her or whatever. I was checked by police; there aren’t any scratches or black and blue marks on me or on my hands. Nothing,” Stewart said. Upon investigation police found that Stewart’s girlfriend appeared to have a bruised left eye and wanted hospital treatment.
Borough officials declined to comment on the charges against Stewart. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 16. Stewart is free on $10,000 bail.
WJAC-TV does not identify victims or alleged victims of domestic violence.