With a 10-year-old child in the room, Malik Carroll Poleto grabbed the woman, “choked her, strangled her and physically threw her around, slamming her into a door frame as well as slamming her head off a cabinet,” it was alleged in an affidavit filed by county Detective Kevin Dent. While brandishing a handgun, Poleto, 45, “proceeded to break items around the couple’s home” at 1151 Market St, Dent was told. This alleged assault occurred on Dec 6, the court document stated. During the next six weeks, Poleto is alleged to have “sent hundreds of text messages to the woman wherein he threatened and harassed her repeatedly,” it was stated in the affidavit. During much of that time, the woman sought shelter elsewhere, the detective said. In mid-January, it was alleged that Poleto continued to send threatening and harassing texts to her, Dent said. After the victim filed a protection from abuse order against him, Poleto chased after the woman in his vehicle while she was driving another vehicle, the detective alleged, adding that a minor was riding with Poleto at the time.

Following a recent preliminary hearing before District Judge Aaron Biichle, Poleto was held for court on all charges, including aggravated and simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime (handgun), recklessly endangering another person, endangering the welfare of a child, terroristic threats, stalking, criminal mischief and harassment. He remains in the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $125,000 bail.