A Schuylkill County man faces multiple charges, including child endangerment and simple assault, after police say he repeatedly struck a woman and pointed a loaded handgun at her head while she held their infant son.
Police in Pottsville have charged Juan Batista, 27, of Pottsville with endangering the welfare of a child, a felony, and misdemeanor counts of simple assault, and reckless endangerment following an alleged altercation on Wednesday at a residence on Pulaski Drive.
According to police, Batista initially arrived at City Hall around 6:30 p.m. to report that the mother of his child had punched him in the face during an argument. Police say Batista had a small red mark on his nose but no swelling or bruising around his eye. When asked if he had any weapons, Batista allegedly told police, “No, I left the gun at home.” He told police he was making the report to help obtain full custody of their child.
Minutes after Batista left, the woman contacted police to report that Batista had assaulted her between 2-2:30 p.m. that day while she was holding their 8-month-old child.
The woman later arrived at City Hall, where police observed redness and slight bruising on her forehead, redness on her cheek, and a small cut on her finger. She also reported having torn leggings.
The woman told police the argument began over Batista being on his phone. She alleged Batista slapped her in the face, knocking off her glasses, and she swung back to defend herself, striking his eye.
A witness intervened, but the woman told police Batista charged her again and punched her in the face several times while she stood holding the child. The woman stated that Batista took her phone when she threatened to call 9-1-1. The woman alleged the witness refused to call police but did stop Batista from assaulting her further.
While the woman was packing her belongings to leave, Batista returned and demanded she leave immediately, the woman told police. As she knelt holding her son, Batista yelled, “Get the (bleep) out of my house!” and pointed a black handgun inches from her head, the woman stated.
A second witness then entered the room, told Batista to put the gun away, and told him to go for a walk to cool down, the woman told police. Because Batista had taken her phone, the woman stated she used a laptop to message a friend to order a ride-share vehicle to Reading.
Police say they went to the Pulaski Drive residence and took Batista into custody. After Batista gave consent to search his vehicle, police say they found a loaded black Springfield Armory 9mm handgun with a round in the chamber. Batista told police he was holding the gun in his pocket during the altercation but denied pointing it at the woman’s head.
A witness confirmed to police that they separated the two multiple times and told Batista to stop hitting the woman, but the witness denied being asked to call 9-1-1 and denied hearing the woman yell that Batista had a gun pointed at her.
Batista was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer early this morning and was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison on 10% of $50,000 bail. Court records show he posted bond earlier today.
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