DUBOIS – All charges against a Rockton man accused of assaulting his mother and refusing to allow her to get medical treatment were held to court after a preliminary hearing Friday at District Judge Patrick Ford’s office.
Mitchell David Kohler, 33, was charged by DuBois City police with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats, resisting arrest and harassment after an incident at a DuBois home on Nov. 12.
The resisting arrest charge was dismissed after the hearing. The other charges now move on to the court of common pleas for further disposition.
Kohler is being held in the county jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police responded to the residence after Kohler’s sister reported that Kohler was giving their mother “a rough time” and they wanted him removed from the home.
When police arrived, they knocked at the door and received no response. They then called Kohler and negotiated with him so they could be allowed inside to check on the welfare of the victim.
Once inside, police say they saw the victim laying in a fetal position on a love seat in the living room.
Initially she told police she had fallen. But after Kohler was taken to another part of the house, she reportedly said he struck her in the back and she was now having extreme difficulty breathing.
Because of the seriousness of the injury, it was determined that Kohler should be taken into custody immediately.
When officers asked him to turn around and place his hands behind his back, he asked why and did not comply. He was then forced to the ground where he reportedly struggled with the officers as he was placed in handcuffs.
After the victim was taken to a hospital for treatment, it was discovered she had suffered a fractured rib and a collapsed lung, according to the report.
She told police that she and Kohler were arguing when he pulled her off the couch and struck her in the back with his fist.
After this, she reported that she was having difficulty breathing and screamed in pain.
He allegedly denied her access to medical assistance and covered her mouth with his hands, telling her to be quiet because she was attracting attention.
She told investigators that he said she was not injured, picked her up and forced her onto the couch.
She also stated that at some point during that day, Kohler was opening and closing his pocket knife saying “I should have put this through your temple,” according to the complaint.
