RAPHO TOWNSHIP, PA – A 39-year-old Rapho Township man accused of strangling a woman and later threatening her to prevent her from testifying against him will face charges in the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas.
Following preliminary hearings earlier this month, Judge Michael Hess ruled on September 3 that both cases involving Steven A. Grabowski will proceed. Grabowski is charged with strangulation and simple assault in one case, and two counts of intimidating a witness and one count of stalking in the second.
The initial charges stem from an incident on the night of June 20, when Grabowski allegedly assaulted his then-roommate at their shared residence in the first block of Lancaster Estates. The victim told police that Grabowski, who was upset, pushed her and strangled her while trying to take her cellphone. She suffered injuries to her arm and bruises to her neck.
In August, prior to the scheduled preliminary hearing, Grabowski allegedly sent a series of threatening text messages to the same victim. According to police, he warned the woman that she would never see her son again if she testified in court, but offered that she could return to live with him if she did not appear. Police reviewed screenshots of the messages and filed the additional charges during his court appearance.
Grabowski was initially released on $10,000 unsecured bail but is now being held at Lancaster County Prison on a combined $60,000 bail following the new charges.
The charges were filed by Manheim Borough Police Officers Hudson Hughes and Michael Klock. Assistant District Attorney Anthony Gilbert is prosecuting the case.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: Link to Source
