A Schuylkill County man was jailed following an alleged domestic violence incident earlier this week.
According to court documents, a Trooper from State Police-Frackville was dispatched to a home on W. Girard Ave. in West Mahanoy Township shortly after midnight on June 15 for a reported domestic incident.
The alleged victim told police that her ex-boyfriend – identified as Lesther Rodriguez-Morales, 30, of West Mahanoy Township – was there and refused to leave. She reportedly told police that Morales entered the home and sat on the couch, where she was seated, and that he did not have permission to be there.
However, police say text messages between the victim and Morales purportedly show that Morales is living at that W. Girard Ave. home and pays bills for the house.
The victim told police she tried to get Morales to leave but he refused. An argument broke out and it turned violent when Morales allegedly punched the victim in the side of her face and on her body multiple times.
The victim then told police that she tried to leave the house but Morales blocked her path and shut the door. He then allegedly placed his foot against the bottom of the door to further prevent the victim from leaving.
When the victim told Morales that she was going to call the police, he fled the scene. Police say they were able to catch up to Morales in a wooded area near the home.
Surveillance video from inside the residence was then viewed and confirmed what the victim said, police say.
Morales was arraigned before District Magistrate Judge Edward Tarantelli on June 15 and charged with simple assault and harassment. Tarantelli set bail at $10,000 cash, which wasn’t posted and Morales was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison, where he remains awaiting a preliminary hearing.
That hearing is currently scheduled for July 3.
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