SMETHPORT — All but one charge against an East Smethport man, accused of threatening people with a machete as well as strangling one person, was bound to McKean County Court.
Mark A. Carlson, 45, appeared for a preliminary hearing Monday before District Judge WIlliam Todd.
Carlson still faces these nine charges: strangulation and aggravated assault, both second-degree felonies; two counts of terroristic threats, both first-degree misdemeanors; three counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of simple assault, all second-degree misdemeanors; disorderly conduct, a third-degree misdemeanor; and summary harassment, according to court records.
One count of disorderly conduct, a third-degree misdemeanor, was withdrawn, court records indicate.
Kane-based state police reported that at 7:50 p.m. April 6, they were dispatched to 20 Water Ave. in Keating Township for a domestic dispute involving a weapon. Carlson had fled the scene when police arrived.
The alleged victims related to police that Carlson threatened to kill them with a machete and strangled one of them, police stated at the time the charges were filed. According to a criminal complaint in the case, Heather Carlson, 45, told police that Mark Carlson had been drinking alcohol all day and had threatened to kill her daughter, Jada Priest, 23.
She said Mark Carlson got violent and began breaking items inside the house, then grabbed a machete. While holding the machete, he threatened to kill Heather Carlson and Priest. She told police she got between him and her daughter, at which point he pushed her against the furnace, then grabbed her by the throat with his left hand and squeezed until she was unable to breathe, court records stated.
She told police that while this was happening, Mark Carlson was swinging the machete with his right hand. She was able to free herself, and trapped him inside a bedroom, allowing herself, Priest and a one-year-old infant to escape the residence, court records stated.
Carlson is incarcerated in McKean County Jail in lieu of $85,000 bail.
