CLEARFIELD – A Cherry Tree man is accused of assaulting a woman during a domestic incident.
William R. Winkelman, 47, is charged by Punxsutawney-based state police with felony strangulation, misdemeanor simple assault and summary harassment.
Winkelman had all charges held for county court following a preliminary hearing Wednesday. Bail is set at $25,000 monetary.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, a known woman arrived at the state police barracks to report a domestic disturbance around 10:45 a.m. on March 11.
The woman said she awoke with Winkelman standing over her, and he was also screaming. She said he then got on top of her while continuing to yell.
She said she was able to get away from him and locked herself in the bathroom.
On April 9, state police were contacted by an employee at Penn Highlands Elk regarding the same known woman in the emergency room due to pain in her throat.
When state police interviewed the woman at the hospital, she said she had been in a physical altercation with Winkelman.
She told state police they were arguing when Winkelman threw an empty pan at her. He then charged at her.
She fled toward the attic door and ran upstairs, but when she was two steps from the top, Winkelman allegedly dragged her back down by her leg and began choking her on the kitchen floor.
The woman said she struggled, and Winkelman kept squeezing, but she was eventually able to get to her stomach.
She told state police she was “begging him not to kill her,” and that he made the comment, “today was the day he’d kill me,” with his hand on her throat.
He then allegedly punched her in the back. The woman had bruises on her arms, legs and back, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
It was also noted that the woman had bruising to the cartilage of her throat, as well as a scratch on her thigh from being pulled down the stairs.