Bail denied for Springdale man accused of beating, strangling woman; trial ordered

A Springdale man accused of beating and strangling a woman who had a protection from abuse order against him has been ordered to stand trial.

Stephen Anthon Winstead, 24, of the 900 block of Chester Street waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday during an appearance before District Judge David Sosovicka. Winstead was ordered to stand trial on felony charges of aggravated assault and strangulation along with a count of simple assault.

Winstead has been detained in the Allegheny County Jail since his arrest after a judge ruled he was a danger to the victim. Formal arraignment in Allegheny County Court is scheduled for May 25, according to court records.

Police wrote in a criminal complaint that the woman obtained a court order for Winstead to stay away from her, but she found him sleeping in a room at her house April 3.

She told police she woke Winstead to tell him to leave the house when he jumped out of bed and pushed her to the floor, the complaint said.

The woman said Winstead grabbed her by the neck and slammed her head against the floor while choking her, police said. She told police her young son was in the room and was able to end the attack, the complaint said.

Winstead was still in bed when police went to the house, but he declined to discuss the incident, the complaint said.

Winstead had to be restrained while taken into custody because he repeatedly pulled away from officers as they tried to place him in handcuffs, police said.

Springdale police withdrew a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest before Winstead’s court appearance.