A 56-year-old Butler man is accused of attacking a woman with a belt before choking her until she struggled to breathe. The woman escaped, and police later arrested the suspect after he allegedly fled the apartment. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for next Monday.
According to Butler Radio, the incident occurred last Wednesday at an apartment in Butler. Charging documents allege Matthew Kennedy followed the woman into a bedroom, pushed her onto a bed, climbed on top of her and strangled her before she broke free; police later located him near North Elm Street and East Brady Street.
Charges And Next Court Date
Kennedy is charged with simple assault and strangulation and was placed in Butler County Prison on $30,000 bond, the report says. A preliminary hearing is set for next Monday, when prosecutors must establish sufficient evidence for the case to move forward.
What Pennsylvania’s Strangulation Law Says
Pennsylvania law defines strangulation as knowingly or intentionally impeding another person’s breathing or blood circulation by applying pressure to the throat or neck or blocking the nose and mouth, according to the Pennsylvania Legislature. The statute also says that visible physical injury is not required, and the offense can be graded from a second-degree misdemeanor to a felony, depending on circumstances such as the relationship between the people involved, protection orders, or prior convictions.
Other Recent Butler-Area Strangulation Cases
The case follows another recent Butler-area arrest involving a similar allegation. Hoodline reported another local strangulation arrest in July, involving a Brackenridge man accused of strangling a woman while she slept.
Earlier, the Butler Eagle reported that a separate Butler man, Marlon Williams, faced felony strangulation and misdemeanor simple assault charges after a May incident. The cases are separate, and the available reports do not establish a broader trend.
Kennedy remains accused, not convicted. Butler Radio reported that he is being held on bond while the allegations proceed through the county court system.
