Man accused of threatening ex-girlfriend
A Butler man is accused of threatening his ex-girlfriend in a bid to get her to drop previous domestic violence charges against him.
City police arrested 50-year-old St. Clair A. Moriniere III on New Year's Day, but not before he allegedly got into an altercation with officers.
District Judge Bill O'Donnell arraigned Moriniere on a felony charge of intimidation of a witness or victim and misdemeanor charges of simple assault and resisting arrest. He is in the Butler County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bond.
The 53-year-old victim notified authorities at 5:25 a.m. Friday after she reported that Moriniere, a former boyfriend, had appeared at her apartment on South Cliff Street, violating a condition of his bail.
Butler police previously arrested Moriniere on two occasions after he allegedly assaulted her May 30 and Aug. 28 during domestic disputes at his apartment on the 300 block of West Diamond Street, according to court documents.
He is charged in each case with simple assault. He was released on nonmonetary bail following his August arrest and ordered to have no contact with the victim.
The woman told police Friday that Moriniere came to her home and argued with her in regard to the pending domestic violence charges, investigators said.
“She stated that Moriniere told her she better drop the charges or that he would have her killed,” according to the police affidavit.
He allegedly shoved the woman and continued to tell her to drop the charges. During the incident, police said, the victim suffered a minor injury. The defendant left after she advised him she was calling police.
Officers went to Moriniere's apartment, but police said he refused to come out when they asked to speak to him. He also yelled to them that the victim was lying.
After some time, documents said, he opened the door. But when police told Moriniere he was under arrest, he pulled away. Officers ended up taking him to the ground before he was arrested.
Moriniere's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday. Online records did not list an attorney for him.
