From staff reports
A Franklin man facing strangulation and other charges waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday in Venango County Central Court.
Kenneth David Smith, 37, is charged with a felony count of strangulation and misdemeanor counts of simple assault and terroristic threats in connection with a Jan. 16 incident.
A criminal complaint filed by Sugarcreek Borough police says Smith is accused of grabbing a woman by the neck, shoving her into a wall and threatening to kill her if she called police.
Police responded to the Independent Road home and observed bruising on the woman’s neck, arms and torso, the complaint said.
Smith had left the residence but later agreed to come to the Sugarcreek police station and make a written statement.
Smith said in the statement that the woman had come toward him and he pushed her away, causing them both to fall into the wall, the complaint said.
The woman met with an advocate from the PPC Violence Free Network and filed an emergency protection from abuse order, according to the complaint.
