William Penn man accused of assaulting, trapping woman in Minersville home

MINERSVILLE – A William Penn man is in Schuylkill County Prison after police in Minersville say he assaulted a woman and wouldn’t let her leave.

Christopher Zukas, 33, of 47 Mount Olive Boulevard, is facing felony aggravated assault, strangulation, misdemeanor false imprisonment and simple assault charges, among others.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Minersville Patrolman Cody Searfoss, police were called to a home at 627 North Second Street on June 12 around 10:43am for a reported domestic.

When police arrived on scene, a woman, Emily Litchko, ran out of the back door of the home when officers knocked on the door.

She had obvious bruises and injuries, including a black eye, red marks, and scratch marks, Searfoss wrote.

She told police that Zukas trapped her in the attic, using a couch to block the door.

In that time, Zukas, she said, punched her multiple times, scratched her back with a razor, and grabbed her by the throat.

Zukas was taken into custody and told police, when asked if he had anything on him, that he had “a bunch of meth.” Police said he had a baggie of a substance that tested positive for meth.

He was arraigned and committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $20,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing is set for July 9 before Magisterial District Judge David Plachko in Port Carbon.

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