Assault of woman lands man behind bars
NORRISTOWN » The assault of a Pottstown woman during a domestic-related incident has landed a Norristown man behind bars.
Jiles Griffen, 39, of the first block of Jacoby Street, Norristown, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 11 ½ to 23 months in the county jail after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of simple assault in connection with a September 2017 incident in Pottstown. Judge Steven C. Tolliver, who accepted a plea agreement in the case, said Griffen will receive credit for time he spent in jail from the time of his arrest through July 16.
Griffen is eligible for the jail’s work release program as he completes his period of incarceration, according to court papers.
By pleading guilty to the simple assault charge, Griffen admitted that he attempted to cause bodily injury to the victim.
An investigation began about 6:39 p.m. Sept. 25, 2017, when Pottstown police responded to the first block of East Second Street for a report of a domestic disturbance, according to a criminal complaint.
The victim told police she and Griffen were
involved in a verbal argument when Griffen accused her of “giving his clothes away in Norristown,” according to the arrest affidavit.
“(The victim) stated that he then grabbed her by the collar of her shirt so tight that she could feel his fist pressing against her neck,” Pottstown Police Officer Michael J. Mitchell alleged in the criminal complaint, adding Griffen then struck the woman in the left side of her rib cage with a closed fist.
Griffen told the woman he would strike her again if she didn’t give him her bank card, according to court papers.
“Out of fear, the victim gave Jiles her bank card and he took her cellphone,” Mitchell alleged, adding Griffen left the area with the woman’s bank card, cellphone and car keys. “The victim was able to leave the scene and call the police from another location.”
As part of the plea agreement, other charges of robbery, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property were dismissed against Griffen.