Police: Mahanoy man assaulted, strangled mother when denied cash
MAHANOY CITY – A Mahanoy City man is in Schuylkill County Prison, accused of strangling his mother because she wouldn’t give him any money.
James Sladek, 40, of 215 West Centre Street, is facing felony strangulation, misdemeanor simple assault, and summary harassment charges.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Mahanoy City Police Patrolman Rachael Lenar, police were called to 213 West Centre Street around 1:30am Tuesday morning.
Sladek’s mother reported that he woke her up demanding money. She said she didn’t have any to give him, and what little she did have was for food.
At that point, Sladek pulled his mother from the couch, across the floor, and began assaulting her, striking her multiple times in the face, police said.
The 69-year-old woman, police said, had visible injuries to the right side of her face.
Sladek at one point pinned his mother to the ground and began to strangle and smother her. He then demanded the keys to her car, and he fled.
He was arrested Thursday and committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $50,000 cash bail.
A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 30 before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker in Shenandoah.
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