PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (EYT) — A local man faces multiple felony aggravated assault charges after police say he spent years abusing a child, at one point yanking the boy down a flight of stairs and causing a head injury that required staples.
Court records indicate that police filed the following charges against Jonathan Wayne Lute, 42, of Punxsutawney, on December 12, 2025:
- Aggravated Assault — Attempts to Cause Serious Bodily Injury or Causes Injury with Extreme Indifference, Felony 1 (two counts)
- Aggravated Assault — Victim Less Than 13 and Defendant 18 or Older, Felony 1
- Endangering Welfare of Children, Felony 3
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2
- Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
- Harassment (Communicating lewd, threatening, or obscene language), Misdemeanor 3
According to a criminal complaint filed by Detective Ryan Miller of the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department, the investigation began on November 26, 2025. Police assisted Jefferson County Children and Youth Services with a home visit on Clark Street regarding a report of suspected physical abuse.
The complaint said a juvenile male reported that his stepfather, identified as Jonathan Wayne Lute, was physically and mentally abusive. According to the affidavit, the child reported Lute recently struck him in the groin with enough force to cause pain he rated as a “10.5” on a scale of one to ten. Medical records later confirmed the boy had microscopic blood in his urine following the alleged assault, the complaint states.
Lute also allegedly yanked the child down a flight of stairs several years ago when the victim was 12 years old. The child told police Lute grabbed him by his shirt collar and yanked him, causing him to strike his head on a stair. According to the complaint, the child required staples at Punxsutawney Area Hospital for the head wound.
The affidavit states Lute also verbally abused the child by calling him names and “hassling” him every day. The boy’s mother told police Lute drank alcohol regularly and would purposefully start arguments with the child. She also told investigators that Lute forced her to lie to hospital staff about the head injury, threatening that she would never see her other children again if she told the truth.
Lute was arraigned on January 9 before Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock. He is currently held in the Jefferson County Jail after being unable to post $25,000 monetary bail.
