Man waives charges of threatening boy to court
A Herbert man charged with threatening an 11-year-old boy with a knife at a local pharmacy in February waived the charges against him to court Wednesday. Joseph Burton, 59, of 645 Hill St. was charged before Magisterial District Judge Joseph George Jr. with making terroristic threats and harassment after he allegedly approached the boy, began to talk to him and then pulled out a 3-inch pocketknife and held it to his face, state police said.
Burton, who represented himself at Wednesday’s hearing, rejected a plea bargain offered by Fayette County Assistant District Attorney Peter J. Hook of 6 to 12 months in state prison, proclaiming his innocence.
The Vietnam veteran told George he was denied representation by the county public defender’s office because he did not meet income requirements but added that he could not afford to hire an attorney.
He then decided to waive the charges to court and try to hire an attorney before his trial.
Trooper Stefani Plume filed the charges last month after Burton approached the boy while his mother was at the checkout counter at the K-Mart Pharmacy on Matthew Drive in South Union Township at 11:45 a.m. Feb. 2.
The names of the family involved in the incident are being withheld because the state police do not release the names of victims under the age of 17.
Plume said the boy told police that Burton talked to him about his haircut and then pulled out a small knife and held it to his neck and head.
The boy said he was afraid to say anything to Burton because of the knife, so he stood there until his mother turned around and saw what was happening, Plume said.
Plume said the boy’s sister also recounted the incident, noting that “she (the sister) couldn’t believe he held it up to her brother’s face but was too scared to say anything because she did not know the man and she didn’t want her brother to get hurt.”
After the boy’s mother realized her son was in danger, Plume said, she grabbed both of her children and ran to the customer service desk, where security was called.
Police said Burton admitted to talking to the boy about basketball and his haircut and also told police he did have a pocketknife in his hand at the time, but denied threatening the child.
George set bond at $5,000, unsecured.
Burton is scheduled for formal arraignment in Fayette County Court at 9:30 a.m. April 19.