CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield couple will stand trial on charges for assaulting a woman, as well as for taking and damaging items belonging to her during an incident last month in Curwensville.
Betsy S. Clark, 38, and David S. Peterson, 35, both of Clearfield, were facing charges of aggravated assault; robbery-inflict serious bodily injury; robbery-inflict threat of immediate bodily injury; simple assault; theft by unlawful taking; receiving stolen property; harassment; and criminal mischief.
After a preliminary hearing during Centralized Court Wednesday, the charges of simple assault; theft by unlawful taking; receiving stolen property; harassment; and criminal mischief were held for court.
However, the charges of aggravated assault; robbery-inflict serious bodily injury; and robbery-inflict threat of immediate bodily injury were dismissed, according to online court documents.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Feb. 17 the victim left Wal-Mart in Clearfield with her two sons. While en route to her Beech Street residence in Curwensville, a vehicle began following her; it was occupied by both Peterson and Clark along with two others.
She parked in her usual spot and the Peterson vehicle parked close by. Clark exited the vehicle, approached hers and accused her of stealing some prescription drugs earlier on the date in question.
Clark allegedly proceeded to take the victim’s purse from her. When the victim exited her vehicle to get her purse back, Clark entered the victim’s vehicle and grabbed some items belonging to her (the victim).
The victim then reached into her vehicle, grabbed her purse and attempted to walk away. However, Peterson was standing close by and blocked her from doing so.
Clark allegedly punched the victim in the face approximately five times and pushed her to the ground. Once the victim was on the ground, Peterson allegedly dragged her across the parking lot, and Clark then punched the victim approximately five more times in the face.
The victim, according to the affidavit, hit and kicked Clark in self-defense. As a result, Peterson allegedly punched the victim in the face/head area twice and kneed her in the mouth, which knocked out two of her teeth.
“[The victim] was punched and kicked several times while on the ground,” stated state police in the affidavit. “[Peterson] put his knee into her neck and stated, ‘How do you like that, [expletive]?” State police also indicated that during the struggle, the victim had a huge clump of hair pulled out of her head.
Clark and Peterson stopped when someone yelled that they were going to call the police.
Upon investigation state police determined that Clark and Peterson allegedly removed several items from the victim’s purse and vehicle. These items included $60 in cash, her Pennsylvania driver’s license, Social Security Cards and a wallet. All items totaled approximately $120, state police said.
Clark and Peterson also damaged several items, including a purse, a plastic disk, pens, flowers, a necklace, earrings, a wedding album and a coat. Damage totaled approximately $175, state police said.
Bail has now been set at $50,000 unsecured for both Clark and Peterson, according to online court documents.
