Man charged with punching pregnant woman
A Vanderbilt man is in Washington County Prison after he allegedly punched a pregnant woman in the stomach on Sunday.
State police said Jason Wesley Colbert, 33, was charged before Magisterial District Judge Ethan T. Ward with aggravated assault on an unborn child, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.
According to police, the incident occurred at a location on Wilson Road in Fallowfield Township.
Police said that Colbert was arguing with Melissa Pickford, 34, of Charleroi and that during the fight, he punched her multiple times in the stomach.
Police said that Pickford is 34 weeks pregnant. She was treated for her injuries at Magee Women’s Hospital of UPMC in Pittsburgh.
Colbert was placed in prison on $50,000 straight cash bond following his arraignment.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 24 in Washington County Central Court.
This isn’t Colbert’s first alleged criminal activity.
Court records indicate that in November 2009, he was charged with simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment following an incident in Fallowfield Township.
He pleaded guilty to the assault charge and prosecutors withdrew the remaining charges in early 2010. He was sentenced to one year of probation in May.
In April 2002, he was charged with simple assault and harassment for an incident in Fayette County, court records indicate. He pleaded guilty to those charges in 2003 and was sentenced to two years probation.