HOUTZDALE – A Houtzdale man is facing charges following a domestic incident with his live-in girlfriend.
Paul William Witherite, 33, is charged by Trooper Christopher Wilson of the Clearfield-based state police with felony strangulation, misdemeanor simple assault and summary harassment. His bail is currently set at $25,000 unsecured.
The charges stem from a domestic dispute that occurred around 10:45 a.m. April 17 at a St. Clara Street residence in Houtzdale, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the office of Magisterial District Judge James Glass.
At the scene, Wilson spoke with Witherite, who said he’d gotten into an argument with his live-in girlfriend over her actions and drug use. He said it turned physical when she knocked his cell phone out of his hand.
The trooper said when he questioned Witherite further about the drug use at the residence, he became “agitated.”
In an interview, the woman said she’d gotten into a physical altercation with Witherite. She said he pushed her to the ground and placed his hands around her neck.
Witherite allegedly choked the woman two different times, and she experienced difficulty breathing. Wilson said he observed bruising around her neck that was consistent with having been choked.
As state police spoke with Witherite, he began to walk to a relative’s residence next door. However, he turned around and returned home, at which point he was taken into custody.