A Northumberland County man charged with kidnapping and assaulting his estranged wife lost an attempt Friday in Schuylkill County Court to have his bail reduced.
Kyle C. Kent, 31, of Mount Carmel, returned to Schuylkill County Prison, where he is being held in lieu of $75,000 straight cash bail, after Judge Charles M. Miller declined to reduce it to $5,000 percentage, which would have required Kent to post $500 to leave prison.
The court agreed with the commonwealth that the current bail is appropriate in light of the seriousness of the charges against Kent, who was in a wheelchair during the 20-minute hearing.
Those charges include aggravated assault, kidnapping, burglary, criminal trespass, terroristic threats, stalking, unlawful restraint, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief and harassment, all of which state police at Frackville alleged Kent committed Sept. 18.
Police said that between 6 and 11 p.m. Sept. 18, Kent broke into the house at 334 E. Mahanoy Ave., Girardville, where Melissa Kent was staying, started punching her and then dragged her outside.
Police said Kyle Kent forced Melissa Kent into his Ford Explorer Sport and drove away. While driving, Kyle Kent hit his wife with his fist and elbow, police said.
Kyle Kent then drove Melissa Kent around Girardville and to the Aristes area, police said.
While in Aristes, Kyle Kent tried to turn onto a dirt road but his wife jumped out of the moving SUV. Police said Kyle Kent chased the woman, caught her and slammed her head off the road several times before forcing her back into the SUV.
During Friday's hearing, Kyle Kent testified he wants to leave prison in order to receive treatment for pre-existing injuries.
"The only reason I want to get out, your honor, is to get this pain taken care of," he told Miller.
However, when cross-examined by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer N. Lehman, Kyle Kent said he once pleaded guilty to a charge of resisting arrest and had a bench warrant issued for him when he failed to appear for a hearing.
Lehman also said that Melissa Kent suffered a facial fracture in the incident and these factors mean the defendant should stay behind bars.
"We believe the bail was appropriately set," Lehman said.
Miller did say he would consider changing his decision in the future if Assistant Public Defender Lora J. McDonald, Kyle Kent's lawyer, presented evidence from an orthopedic expert about the seriousness and intensity of her client's pain.