A Buffalo, N.Y., man accused of burglary, threats and drug allegations was one of several people to appear for preliminary hearings Wednesday in McKean County.
Walter L. Dennis Jr., 44, of Buffalo, N.Y., had a criminal case against him bound to McKean County Court at a hearing before District Judge Dominic Cercone. Dennis is charged with burglary, criminal trespassing and selling a noncontrolled substance represented as a controlled substance, felonies; terroristic threats, simple assault, possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanors; and summary harassment.
According to the criminal complaint, on the afternoon of June 22, Dennis banged on an apartment door in Bradford, and when the female who lived there opened it, he forced his way into the apartment. He allegedly grabbed the female’s phone and told her to get rid of drugs for him. She told him he needed to leave, and he refused, the complaint stated. Also, he allegedly threatened the female with a 20-inch long stick.
When police took him into custody, they found Dennis to be in possession of a scale, a baggie of suboxone and a baggie of “fake cocaine,” court records indicated.
Dennis is in McKean County Jail in lieu of $30,000 bail.
Jonathan M. Ard, 33, of Bradford, had a case against him bound to McKean County Court at a hearing before Cercone. Ard is charged with two counts each of criminal trespassing, felonies, and harassment, summaries.
According to the criminal complaint, on June 7, Ard opened the door of a Pearl Street apartment building and went into the hallway. A resident who heard the door looked to see if someone was there, and saw Ard; she had only known Ard for about a week. Ard allegedly slurred something threatening, and she told him he couldn’t come in the house, but they could talk in the hallway.
Ard lunged at her, pushed her into the apartment and tackled her, the complaint stated.
The female yelled for help from her boyfriend, and he came out to help; Ard allegedly lunged at him. The female told her boyfriend to get his gun, and he came out with a shotgun, still trying to get Ard to leave. Ard allegedly responded by making threats and indicating that he was not afraid of a shotgun.
Ard is free on unsecured bail.
Jabar M. Kasper, 22, of Bradford, had a case against him bound to McKean County Court at a hearing before Cercone. Kasper is charged with terroristic threats, simple assault and disorderly conduct, misdemeanors; and summary harassment.
The criminal complaint states that on Saturday, Kasper was holding down a female in the front yard of 241 W. Washington St. and punching her, which prompted others to intervene and call 911, court records stated. When they intervened, Kasper threatened to go inside his house and get a gun to shoot them, according to the complaint.
Kasper is in jail in lieu of $17,500 bail.
Steven C. Engle Jr., 44, of Bradford, had a case against him bound to McKean County Court. He is charged with strangulation and simple assault, misdemeanors; and summary harassment.
According to the criminal complaint, on March 2, Engle grabbed a 14-year-old boy, took him to the ground and put him into a hold with his right arm around the boy’s neck, his left arm restraining the boy’s left arm, and his legs wrapped around the boy’s waist. This caused the boy to wheeze for air and feel like he was blacking out.
The next day, the boy had red marks and bruising on his neck, the complaint stated.
Engle is free on unsecured bail.
James J. Ludwig Jr., 35, of Bradford, waived a preliminary hearing for a count of unlawful dissemination of intimate image and two counts of harassment, misdemeanors.
According to the criminal complaint, Ludwig sent intimate photographs of his ex-wife to her current fiance. According to the woman, the photographs were taken about 10 years ago without her knowledge.
Ludwig is free on unsecured bail.
Andrew R. Kroah, 22, of Bradford, had a case against him bound to McKean County Court at a preliminary hearing before Cercone. The hearing was held in Kroah’s absence, as he failed to appear.
He is charged with make repairs/sell/etc. offensive weapon, possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanors.
According to the criminal complaint, on March 1, Bradford City Police pulled over a pickup truck in which Kroah was a passenger. During a subsequent search, police determined that Kroah was in possession of metal knuckles, baggies of marijuana and empty baggies that once contained marijuana.
Kroah is free on unsecured bail.
