Man charged with assaulting woman in Wharton, dragging her across state line
A West Virginia man allegedly kidnapped a woman from her Preston County home, assaulted her in Wharton Township and dragged her by the hair back to his house.
Arrest warrants were issued in both states Wednesday for Virgil Lee Hall, 44, of Bruceton Mills, according to state police in Uniontown.
On Nov. 18, Hall allegedly kidnapped the 40-year-old woman and drove her to Wharton Township, where he assaulted and choked her in a corn field near 165 Rishel Road, less than one mile from the state line. His vehicle became disabled in the field, police said.
“He had her by the hair, and dragged her maybe 300, 400 feet or so,” said Trooper Richard Sizer.
Police did not release the name of the alleged victim.
State police in Uniontown are conducting a joint investigation with the Preston County Sherriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office, which issued the West Virginia warrant, did not immediately return a call seeking comment to detail his charges. A Preston County judge declined to release Pennsylvania’s court documents before Hall is arrested due to the severity of the case.
In Pennsylvania, Hall is charged with strangulation, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint and simple assault. Those charges were filed Wednesday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Wendy Dennis.
Anyone with information is asked to call the State Police Uniontown barracks at 724-439-7111, the Preston County Sheriff’s Office at 304-329-1026 or Fayette County Crime Stoppers at 724- 320-2042.