CLEARFIELD – A Penfield man will spend time in state prison for strangling a woman during an argument.
Joshua Michael Vallone, 32, pleaded guilty to felony strangulation and misdemeanor simple assault during a special sentencing court session before Judge Paul Cherry on Monday.
Cherry gave him a state prison sentence of 12 months to three years. Vallone was ordered to complete anger management counseling, submit to DNA testing and to have no contact with the victim.
It was also noted that Vallone is eligible for the Quehanna Boot Camp.
The charges stem from an incident on Nov. 27, 2018 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 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 was also charged in the incident. She pleaded guilty to a non-traffic summary harassment charge in January, according to online court documents.
