A New Jersey man accused of lighting a Pottsville woman’s foot on fire, assaulting her repeatedly in front of her children, and choking her waived his right to a preliminary hearing on those charges earlier this week.
Naszier Colburn, 29, of Lindenwood, New Jersey, was sent back to Schuylkill County Prison where he’ll likely sit until trial on these charges and those from a previous incident. According to court records, Colburn was denied bail recently because of the likelihood that he wouldn’t appear for a preliminary hearing.
According to court documents filed by Pottsville Police, an officer was dispatched to an address in the city on May 8, 2024, for a report of an assault. The victim told police that Colburn was at that address after his grandmother had bailed him out of jail on March 6 for a previous incident in which he faces, among others, felony charges of aggravated assault and strangulation.
When Colburn arrived at that address after getting bailed out of jail, he reportedly stayed and refused to leave until his preliminary hearing and the victim agreed to drop the charges.
The victim reported to police that between March 6 until April 17, Colburn physically assaulted her on numerous instances. She said he would beat her – dragging her by the hair around the house and banging her head off the floor and walls – in front of her children and she’d wake up to Colburn on top of her. He also allegedly choked the victim to the point where she says she couldn’t breathe.
In one instance, the victim said she awoke to her foot on fire after Colburn allegedly sprayed lighter fluid on her and was lighting it. Police say they saw signs that her foot had been burned.
The victim says she continues to suffer from the effects of that alleged treatment and at some point, fled her home with her children.
Related to the most recent complaint, Colburn is facing charges of aggravated assault and aggravated arson, both first-degree felonies, and third-degree felony victim intimidation. Charges were filed against him on May 31, 2024.
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