Dec 16, 2025 2 min read

A Belle Vernon man is charged with aggravated assault after allegedly breaking his fiancee’s jaw in an altercation.

Albert Thornton, 58, also faces charges of strangulation, terroristic threats, simple assault, as well as a summary charge of harassment.

The alleged assault took place around 10 p.m. at a home on Wood Street in Belle Vernon, according to court documents.

Police said they interviewed Thornton’s fiance, Sara Wall, 39, of Belle Vernon Sunday night at Penn Highlands Mon Valley Hospital, where she had been taken after suffering multiple injuries.

The incident left Wall with swelling around her left eye, a swollen right cheek, abrasions around her face and chin, and scratches and bruising around her neck and collarbone, charging documents said.

Wall told police Thornton had woken up “angry” after she’d had a few drinks while baking and grabbed her by the hair, pushing and pulling her around the house before punching her several times in the face with a closed fist.

Thornton also choked her several times while telling her “You’ll never see the light of day again,” according to the complaint.

Wall had blacked out three or four times during the attack, according to the complaint. She told police she had kicked and scratched Thornton until she was able to break free and get out of the house.

Interviewed by police at the house, Thornton told police he had been woken up by noise from Wall, who he described as “heavily intoxicated.” When Thornton questioned Wall about her drinking, she attacked him in multiple rooms of the house while scratching his face and screaming at her, according to court paperwork.

The trooper who responded to the scene noted a large scratch mark across Thornton’s cheek and nose. Wall faces charges of simple assault and summary harassment.

Thornton is lodged in the Fayette County jail on $20,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 23. Wall is awaiting a preliminary hearing date.