OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — An Oil City man — who is facing first-degree felony aggravated assault and related charges after he allegedly struck and kicked a pregnant woman in the stomach — waived his preliminary hearing that was scheduled for August 24.

Court documents indicate the Oil City Police Department filed criminal charges against 41-year-old Christopher S. Burneisen, of Oil City, on August 13.

He faces the following charges:

• Aggravated Assault, Felony 1
• Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
• Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2

According to a criminal complaint, around 4:55 p.m. on August 13, “(a known woman) reported that she had been assaulted by Christopher Burneisen at a residence on Emerald Street in Oil City.”

The complaint states that the female victim stated “she and Burneisen had been arguing at the grocery store, and he had driven them home to (a residence on Emerald Street), and while she was still in the vehicle, Burneisen kicked her in the face and also in the stomach twice. Burneisen was aware that she is pregnant.”

The victim stated that “they went into the residence due to people driving by and that he began arguing and yelling at her. He then elbowed her in the facial area, choked, and scratched her neck, and kicked her in the stomach and pelvic area again,” the complaint continues.

The victim stated that “Burneisen then drove her to meet her father and dropped her in Grove City where her father picked her up. The victim then went to Magee-Womens Hospital for treatment of her injuries and to check on the welfare of the fetus,” according to the complaint.

The victim stated that they made contact with the Oil City Police Department on Thursday night (August 11) to report the assault and was advised to come to the OCPD to file a formal report when she was able, the complaint states.

During his interview with the victim, Officer Rembold, of the OCPD, “was able to see visible scratches around the victim’s neck, swelling above the left eye, bruising near the right eye, and multiple cuts on the right hand area,” according to the complaint.

Based on his investigation, Officer Rembold filed a criminal complaint in Magisterial District Judge Parick E. Lowrey’s office.

Burneisen was arraigned on August 15 and lodged in the Venango County Jail on $75,000.00 monetary bail.

Bail was posted on August 16 by a professional bondsman from Pittsburgh.

The case was transferred to Venango County Court of Common Pleas and is working its way through the court system.