VENANGO CO., Pa. (EYT) — A Franklin man charged with assaulting a woman then fighting with police officers who were called to the scene waived his hearing in court on Wednesday.

Court documents indicate the following charges against 51-year-old Robert Lee Benson were waived for court on July 29:

– Aggravated Assault — Attempts to cause Serious Bodily Injury or causes injury with extreme indifference, Felony 1 (two counts)
– Strangulation — Applying Pressure to Throat or Neck, Felony 2
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
– Resist Arrest/Other Law Enforcement, Misdemeanor 2

The charges have been transferred to the Venango County Court of Common Pleas.

Benson remains lodged in the Venango County Jail on $25,000.00 monetary bail.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred in Franklin in early July.

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, on July 11, Franklin Police were dispatched to a residence on Atlantic Avenue for a report of a domestic incident.

At the scene, police found the victim outside with blood on her knees. She reported that Robert Benson had slammed her against a wall and choked her until she couldn’t breathe, then pushed her through a door, causing her to fall down approximately 14 stairs, the complaint states.

The complaint notes the victim had cuts and bruising on her body.

Franklin Police learned that Benson was inside the residence and had barricaded himself in his bedroom. The officers then forced entry into the room, and Benson resisted arrest, then continued to fight the officers even after he was handcuffed. He jumped down the stairs while in handcuffs in an attempt to throw officers down the stairs, according to the complaint.

He was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Matthew T. Kirtland at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 16.