Weapons charges against jail inmate bound to court
Charges against a McKean County Jail inmate who allegedly possessed makeshift weapons had charges against him bound to McKean County Court.
Matthew J. Howard, 26, appeared for a hearing Monday before District Judge William Todd on charges of possession of an offensive weapon and weapons or implements for escape.
Howard was incarcerated for a pending stabbing case at the time of the weapons allegations.
According to the criminal complaint, on March 16, corrections officers found the weapons during a search conducted in Cell Block A.
A strip search of Howard revealed that he had a silver rod that was sharpened to a point at the tip, wrapped with gauze and secured with Band-Aids at the other end, the complaint stated.
Meanwhile, the stabbing case against Howard is still pending, too. He has already asked that the case be listed for trial.
The criminal complaint alleges that on Aug. 24 Howard pulled out a knife during an argument and told a man that if he got any closer he would stab him and kill him. Howard threw a beverage can as a distraction, then allegedly lunged forward and stabbed the man in the neck.
The alleged victim went to Erie County Medical Center trauma center for treatment. The neck wound was very close to the esophagus and artery, the complaint stated.
Howard remains in McKean County Jail in lieu of $102,000 bail.
Port Allegany man waives hearing for fleeing charges
A Port Allegany man waived a preliminary hearing Monday before District Judge William Todd for allegations that he fled from a state trooper who tried to pull him over.
Robert L. Hamilton II, 30, is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, three counts each of recklessly endangering another person and DUI-controlled substance, driving while license is suspended/revoked and 83 summary charges.
The criminal complaint states that on March 12 a state trooper who was driving south on Route 155 in Annin Township saw a car driven by Hamilton that was traveling north; the trooper recognized Hamilton, as he arrested him March 9 for allegedly driving while suspended and possessing marijuana and paraphernalia.
The trooper turned around to follow Hamilton and turned on his emergency lights and siren.
During the chase, Hamilton allegedly drove at speeds upwards of 100 mph, passed at least four vehicles in no-passing zones without using turn signals and veered into the wrong lane several times, according to the complaint.
Also, Hamilton had a passenger, and there was a puppy in the back seat of the car that was unsecured, court records stated.
A short time later, Hamilton struck a tree near the intersection of Route 46 and U.S. Route 6. A subsequent blood test at Bradford Regional Medical Center showed that he had methamphetamine and marijuana in his system, according to the complaint.
He is in McKean County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.
