DUBOIS – A Penfield man will stand trial for allegedly strangling a woman during an argument.
Joshua Michael Vallone, 31, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Friday on charges of felony strangulation, misdemeanor simple assault and a summary count of harassment. Although his bail was reduced from $25,000 to $15,000, Vallone remains incarcerated in the county jail.
The charges stem from an incident on Nov. 27 at a Huston Township residence.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, when state police arrived at the scene, Vallone did not have a shirt on and there was a “considerable” amount of blood on his arms. He explained that not all of the blood belonged to him.
Police saw a large amount blood on the kitchen floor, and there were drops of blood leading up the stairs.
Vallone told the troopers that he and his girlfriend, Heather Rose Watson, 24, had gotten into an argument that turned physical when she attacked him.
He claimed he was only defending himself. The victim had been transported to Penn Highlands Elk for treatment.
She reportedly suffered injuries to her orbital socket, had bite marks on her left arm, bleeding from a cut on the top of her head, heavy bruising on her face and forehead, red marks on her left arm, and marks around her neck from strangulation.
In his interview with police, Vallone said they were arguing over debt when she attacked him by breaking a vodka bottle on his head. He said again that it was self-defense and it took all his will to fight her off.
He admitted he used whatever she had in her hands to strike her to defend himself and struck her four or five times with his hands. He advised he did put his hands around her neck, but claimed it was only to get her off him, according to the report.
Vallone admitted he had three shots of alcohol before the incident.
Watson is also facing charges with her preliminary hearing scheduled for Dec. 28. She is charged with simple assault and harassment.
