DUBOIS – A DuBois man has been charged with felony strangulation for an assault on a woman.
Thomas M. Lukens, 33, is also charged with simple assault and harassment. He is housed in the Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police were called to a DuBois residence for a domestic assault on Feb. 19. The victim told the officers they were involved in a verbal argument that became physical when Lukens continually grabbed hold of her tightly, putting her face close to his. She reportedly became uncomfortable and pushed him away.
Police say the victim went to an upstairs bedroom where Lukens grabbed hold of her, pinning her down to the floor and strangling her with is belt. She told investigators that she couldn’t breathe because the belt was so tightly wound around her throat.
She told officers he said she had pushed him too far, called her an [expletive] and said he didn’t care about her children when she pleaded for him to think about them.
When he released her, she was able to get up onto the bed where he reportedly threw an electric heater at her.
An officer noted that the victim had fresh bruising and raised abrasions on her throat and cheek. She also had a fresh red mark on her left wrist.
The victim reported she had neck and throat pain as well as bruising and soreness to the back of her head where he had reportedly punched her numerous times.
Police also saw the electric heater that was still on the bed.
Lukens is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Friday in DuBois.