Man waives hearing in stalking case; some charges dropped

By SAXON DAUGHERTY
Staff Writer

An Oil City man charged in connection with multiple domestic incidents had two felony charges against him dropped Wednesday.

Felony counts of criminal attempt – rape forcible compulsion and criminal attempt – sexual assault were withdrawn against 33-year-old Kris Stahlman II in Venango County Central Court.

Stahlman waived his preliminary hearing in the case, so three misdemeanor counts each of stalking, simple assault, harassment and defiant trespass will be bound over for further proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas.

A criminal complaint said Stahlman followed his wife, who he is separated from, on various occasions recently.

On Oct. 23, Stahlman followed his wife to a degree where Oil City police had to respond several times, the complaint said.

On a different occasion, he approached his wife inside a North Side bar and used lewd language directed toward her until she eventually felt the need to flee the area for her safety, the complaint said.

Stahlman followed his wife by vehicle to her home and continued to berate her once inside, the complaint said.

She told police Stahlman entered her home without permission 10 times and, on three occasions, she had to physically force him out, the complaint said.

Stahlman’s wife eventually reached out to Oil City police because she feared her husband’s actions might someday result in her death, the complaint said.

Stahlman remains free on $25,000 unsecured bail.