The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA

Local News

November 10, 2008

Hearing set for lawyer accused of chaining girlfriend

SANKERTOWN — An Altoona defense lawyer faces a preliminary hearing Friday on charges that he chained his pregnant girlfriend to a couch and left her without a phone for hours at their Sankertown apartment in Cambria County.

Mark Stephen Zearfaus, 40, of the 100 block of Penn Avenue, was freed on $10,000 recognizance bond after he was arraigned Saturday.

State police alleged that Zearfaus and the woman got into a physical altercation around 10 a.m. Friday, when he allegedly hit her on her left arm and in the stomach and pelvic area.

The woman said that when Zearfaus returned a half-hour later, he had a 31-foot chain and two padlocks and told her he didn’t want her leaving the apartment, according to a police affidavit.

He placed one end of the chain around her left ankle, locked it with a padlock and then wrapped the other end around a couch and secured it with the second padlock before leaving the residence, the police alleged.

At 5:30 p.m., the woman was able to yell to a neighbor for help, and the neighbor was able to free her, the police said.

Zearfaus is charged with simple assault, false imprisonment and a summary harassment offense.

Zearfaus, who does legal work in several area counties, was suspended Monday by Blair County President Judge Jolene Kopriva from a position as a court-appointed conflicts lawyer in Blair County.

In that position, he represents clients when the public defender has a conflict of interest. He is paid a $5,000-a-year stipend with no fringe benefits.

Zearfaus, who did not return a call for comment, formerly was an assistant public defender in Blair County.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday before District Judge Charity Nileski.

Cambria County District Attorney Patrick Kiniry, who learned of the incident Monday morning, said, “We will work in cooperation with the state police to determine exactly what happened and the charges involved. We will issue a statement later.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
Poll

Should the speed limit on sections of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and related highways be raised to 70 mph from 65 mph.

Yes.
No.
I don't care because I never travel on those tolled roadways.
     View Results
AP Video
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
House Ads
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com