Martinsburg Man Facing Multiple Assault Charges

A Martinsburg man is behind bars facing multiple charges stemming from the abuse of a 5-month-old girl and her mother in separate incidents.

Felony charges of aggravated assault of a child less than 6 years of age and endangering the welfare of a child were filed against Jeramiah I. Wond, 38, after the child was injured while left in his care.

According to the complaint filed by Blair County Detective Randy Feathers, Wond was staying with the baby's mother at the Roaring Spring Commons apartment complex when, on April 23, Blair County constables arrived to arrest the mother on a cost-and-fines warrant.

Before taking the woman into custody, constables asked her who she could get to watch the baby and she stated that Wond was present but that she was reluctant to leave the baby with him because she didn't trust him.

After a warrant check on Wond turned up empty, the baby was left under his supervision while the mother was transported to District Justice Andrew Blattenberger's office in Martinsburg to answer for her warrant.

The constables noted that the baby had no visible bruises or injuries and that no one else was present when they left the apartment with the mother in custody.

The mother was in custody for approximately one hour before being released and calling Wond for a ride.

The mother told Feathers that she walked from Blattenberger's office to the Dollar General store in Martinsburg where Wond met her. The mother told police that she immediately noticed her daughter's face was "messed up," with bruises all over her face. The mother told police the bruises were not there when she left the child with Wond earlier that day.

Wond allegedly told the mother that the baby started "freaking out" when she left the house and he could not calm her down, so he put her in a swing located in the living room and walked to the bedroom. Wond allegedly claimed that when he returned to the living room the baby was face down on the ground, having fallen out of the swing.

Feathers interviewed a neighbor who told him she had given the mother a baby swing, but that she had seen it in the community garbage bin a few weeks later, contradicting the mother's claim that she had given the swing back to her.

The neighbor showed Feathers a similar swing and he took pictures of it with his cellphone.

The baby was taken to Conemaugh Nason Medical Center in Roaring Spring, and treated for multiple bruises on her forehead, both cheeks, both nostrils, under the nose, between the eyes and under both eyes.

The mother provided Feathers with a photograph of the child that she had taken at the hospital along with a photograph of a swing that was similar to the one Wond claimed the child fell from.

Feathers showed the photographs to Dr. Jennifer E. Wolford from UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh who concluded the injuries were the result of physical abuse, not a fall from the swing.

Dr. Wolford told Feathers that "there is no accidental fall that would give a 5-month-old so many bruises to so many areas of her face."

During his investigation, Feathers listened to a prison phone call between the mother and the baby's incarcerated father a month after the alleged abuse occurred.

During the conversation, the baby's father asked the mother why she lied to him about who she left the baby with and she allegedly said she was afraid the father would "freak out" and take the baby from her if he knew she left her with Wond. The mother also allegedly told the father that she told the constables she didn't trust Wond and that Wond had beaten her.

Wond was arrested on Aug. 30 and arraigned by Blattenberger, who set bail at 10 percent of $40,000.

Additional charges of criminal mischief, simple assault, criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and harassment were filed against Wond on Sept. 5 for an incident that occurred at the Roaring Spring Commons on Aug. 29.

According to the criminal complaint filed by State Police, Hollidaysburg, police were dispatched to the apartment complex to investigate a report of assault.

Police said that Wond arrived at the apartment of his ex-girlfriend, who is the mother of the baby Wond allegedly assaulted and began banging on the door trying to get inside.

Wond allegedly removed a screen from a kitchen window and attempted to open the window to get inside. The victim then called 911 and told Wond that police were on their way.

Wond allegedly broke the deadbolt and chain lock to the apartment and entered. Once inside, Wond allegedly charged at the victim, striking her on the neck causing her to fall to the ground.

A female friend of the victim tried to get her away from Wond, but he allegedly grabbed the woman's face and slammed it on a kitchen counter.

Wond then allegedly began hitting the victim again as she lay on the kitchen floor. Wond then began grabbing items and throwing them throughout the apartment. A male friend of Wond's allegedly entered the apartment and told Wond they needed to leave "before the cops arrived."

Wond allegedly charged the victim one more time, striking her and causing her to fall to the floor. According to the police report, the victim is 6 months pregnant and that Wond had been served with a "No trespass" order to the Roaring Spring Commons prior to this incident.

Bail was set at 10 percent of $30,000. Wond remains in the Blair County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 3, in front of Blattenberger.