Trending
MIFFLINTOWN -- A Mifflintown man is facing charges in two cases after Pennsylvania State Police allege he assaulted and strangled a woman during a domestic dispute, then attempted to escape from police custody the following day.
Jason Agosto-Castro, 50, is charged in the first case with felony strangulation, misdemeanor counts of simple assault and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and summary harassment.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Pennsylvania State Police at Lewistown, troopers were dispatched at about 4:32 p.m. July 17 to an apartment in the 4 S. Main St. building in Mifflintown for a reported domestic incident.
Police said a woman reported that Agosto-Castro, her boyfriend, had assaulted and choked her. Before troopers arrived, Agosto-Castro allegedly left the scene in the woman’s blue 1995 Chrysler Concorde without her permission.
When troopers arrived, police said they saw Agosto-Castro standing in the doorway of the apartment building. According to the affidavit, he ran inside after seeing police. Troopers entered the building but were unable to locate him.
The woman told police Agosto-Castro had been drinking beer and using cocaine throughout the day and that an argument began over his cocaine use, according to the affidavit.
She alleged Agosto-Castro slapped her multiple times in the head and face before wrapping both hands around her neck and choking her. The woman told police she was unable to breathe during the alleged assault. Police said injuries to the woman were captured on a trooper’s body-worn camera.
Troopers searched the area but were unable to locate Agosto-Castro at that time, according to the affidavit.
Agosto-Castro was in state police custody by about 12:55 a.m. July 18 on felony charges from the previous day’s incident, according to an affidavit filed in the second case.
Police allege Agosto-Castro was being escorted out of the PSP Lewistown station to a patrol vehicle when he attempted to flee on foot toward the front door of the barracks. Troopers assisted Agosto-Castro to the ground and placed him in the patrol vehicle, according to the affidavit. Police said he was still acting "irate" and was subsequently assisted back inside the state police station, where additional charges were prepared.
Agosto-Castro was subsequently charged with one felony count of attempted escape.
Court records show Agosto-Castro has remained in custody at Mifflin County Correctional Facility since July 18. Bail in the domestic-assault case was set at $35,000, while bail in the attempted-escape case was set at $60,000.
All charges in both cases were waived to Juniata County Court of Common Pleas on Sept. 2.
Both cases remain active. Agosto-Castro is scheduled for formal arraignment at 9 a.m. Oct. 6 before President Judge Kenneth A. Mummah.