By Pattie Price
In a change of venue hearing Newtown Township’s former Fire Marshal Joe Certo, 45, of Newtown, was held for a Nov. 1 arraignment in Common Pleas Court on the charges of simple assault and harassment by Magisterial District Judge Dave Lang. The charges stem from a domestic altercation 5:30 p.m., Dec. 1, at his Golf Club Lane residence.
According to the affidavit, Newtown Officer Joe Vandegrift said Certo’s wife reported that he assaulted her 4a.m., Nov. 30, while she was asleep in her bedroom. She had bruises on her arm. Mrs. Certo said she was asleep in her bed when she heard a loud noise and was pulled violently across her bed by her estranged husband. When she yelled for him to stop, he did but got into her bed and pretended to be asleep.
Police assisted the victim in obtaining a protection from abuse order.