Unity man charged with assaulting, choking woman

Editor’s note: Simple assault and related charges filed in July 2019 against Aaron M. Klingensmith of Unity have been withdrawn. According to court dockets, the district attorney’s office on Jan. 4, 2021, withdrew the charges before District Judge Michael Mahady. Klingensmith had denied the allegations.

State police say a woman told them a Unity Township man awoke her early Tuesday and began choking and physically assaulting her in her bed.

Aaron M. Klingingsmith, 37, was arraigned before District Judge Tony Bompiani on charges of harassment, simple assault and strangulation after the 5:30 a.m. assault at the victim’s residence on Bethel Church Road in Unity.

Trooper Tony Anthony said the victim suffered numerous visible injuries around her face and neck that required medical attention by paramedics who were called to the scene.

Anthony alleged in court documents that Klingingsmith awoke the woman from her sleep and began yelling and choking her, complaining about information on her cell phone. After breaking free, the victim told police she ran through the kitchen “where the struggle ensued and Aaron Klingingsmith grabbed (the victim) by her head and slammed it off the kitchen table,” court documents said.

The victim was able to flee to a nearby camping trailer where a relative called police.

Klingingsmith was ordered held in the county prison after failing to post $20,000 bond pending a hearing scheduled for Monday.