A Connoquenessing Township man accused of threatening to kill his wife and four children multiple times from 2007 to 2026 had all charges held for court after his wife testified against him at a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Aug. 19.

Justin James Popa, 41, was charged July 22 by state police after they became aware of the alleged incidents June 2 from a ChildLine report. Police said most of the incidents occurred while the family was in the car or at night when Popa believed the children were asleep.

Popa was charged with four felony counts of child endangerment and five misdemeanor counts each of simple assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats and harassment.

The incidents began in 2007, about two months after he married his wife, police said. The most recent incident was Jan. 7.

The family, including four children, was traveling Jan. 7 on Route 68 near Connoquenessing Elementary School when Popa began screaming at his wife and threatening to drive the car into oncoming traffic and into a pole, police said.

Police said during the incident, Popa also pulled a gun, which he carries “everywhere,” and threatened to kill himself and the five other people inside, causing the car to crash.

Police said Popa was driving between 50 and 60 mph during the incident and crossed over the centerline into the path of oncoming vehicles.

In another incident from 2021, police said Popa and his wife were having an argument when Popa pulled out his gun and aimed it at her head.

Popa then put the gun to his head and threatened to pull the children out of their rooms one by one and kill them in front of his wife, police said.

Police said Popa then shoved his wife and told her if she ever told anyone, he would “make sure it happened.”

According to police, Popa consistently told his wife he had the police “in his back pocket,” which is why she never reported it.

Police said Popa also squeezed the arms of one of the children while knowing it hurt them. The child previously had marks on their arms from previous instances of Popa squeezing the child’s arms, according to police. The most recent alleged incident was last year.

In another incident while the family was in another state, police said Popa drove at high speeds, swerving in and out of traffic while threatening to kill his family or drive into the median.

Police said there were multiple instances where Popa threatened to crash into oncoming traffic and shoot his wife, children and himself.

Defense attorney Mike Jewart argued Popa’s wife had changed her story when discussing the alleged incidents, but District Judge Amy Marcinkiewicz still held the charges.

Attempts to contact Jewart after the hearing were unsuccessful.

Popa’s formal arraignment is scheduled for 1 p.m. Oct. 6 in Butler County Common Pleas Court.