Pottstown man faces prison for domestic incident

NORRISTOWN >> A Pottstown man is headed to prison on charges he illegally possessed a gun which he allegedly used to threaten his girlfriend during a domestic disturbance in the borough.

Jason Hunter Zebley, 21, of the 900 block of East High Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 4-to-8-years in a state correctional facility after he pleaded guilty to charges of persons not to possess a firearm, strangulation and terroristic threats in connection with the May 8, 2018, incident at his residence.

Judge William R. Carpenter, who accepted a plea agreement in the case, also ordered Zebley to complete four years’ probation

following parole, meaning Zebley will be under court supervision for 12 years. Carpenter ordered Zebley to have no contact with the victim as a condition of the sentence.

The investigation began about 11:20 a.m. when a woman contacted Pottstown police to report that Zebley, who she identified as her boyfriend, had punched her in the face and body, strangled her and pointed a handgun at her during an argument at Zebley’s residence, according to a criminal complaint.

“He began punching the victim in the face and also slapped her on the right side of the head. She said that she was now having a hard time hearing out of her right ear,” Pottstown Police Officer Todd Istenes alleged in the arrest affidavit. “She said that Zebley then pulled a gun and pointed it at her, racking the slide and ejecting a round.

“The victim said she did not want to die, so she charged Zebley,” Istenes added. “Zebley then wrapped his forearm around her neck and began to strangle her. This occurred for approximately one minute during which time the victim could not breathe.”

The woman eventually was able to flee from the residence.

Police said they observed a bruise on the woman’s arm and cuts to her elbow and knee. The victim was treated at a local hospital and she later told police she was diagnosed with a perforated eardrum, according to the criminal complaint.

When police confronted Zebley about the incident they also searched the residence and recovered the handgun, according to court papers. Police alleged Zebley had a criminal history that prohibited him from possessing a firearm.

During the search, authorities also seized a glass jar containing suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia, including a digital scale and glass pipes, according to the arrest affidavit.

Charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and simple assault were dismissed against Zebley as part of the plea agreement, court documents indicate.