Judge denies plea bargain for Fawn man accused of trying to kidnap New Kensington woman

A Fawn man will go to trial on attempted kidnapping and assault charges in connection with allegations that he brutally attacked his former girlfriend in New Kensington last summer.

Westmoreland County Judge Rita Hathaway denied defense motions that sought to dismiss the two most serious charges filed against Jeremy Chambers in connection with the attack on Aug. 4.

According to police, Chambers, 36, ambushed his former girlfriend in an alley. She told investigators Chambers jumped from behind a bush and attempted to restrain her with duct tape and push her into her own car.

The woman said Chambers choked and punched her as she attempted to fight back, according to court records.

Chambers drove off alone in the woman’s car after a neighbor and his dog came into the alley and yelled for him to stop the assault, police said.

The attack came just a day after his alleged victim went to court for a protection from abuse order against Chambers.

The judge rejected a defense motion from Assistant Public Defender Greg Cecchetti, who claimed there was not enough evidence to support the attempted kidnapping and aggravated assault charges against Chambers.

The judge also ruled that prosecutors can present evidence that Chambers has a history of violence against his accuser.

A proposed plea bargain deal was scuttled after the judge refused to impose a sentence against Chambers that would run concurrently to a six- to 15-year-prison sentence issued in January by a Venango County judge for a related case.

Police said Chambers fled to Venango County after the attempted kidnapping and was arrested there and charged with theft and other offenses.

Hathaway said she would not approve a plea deal unless it ensures Chambers serve an additional six- to 12-year-prison sentence for the attempted kidnapping and assault in New Kensington. Chambers should serve his two sentences back-to-back and not at the same time, the judge said.

“A six- to 12-year concurrent sentence is like a freebie to him,” Hathaway said. “That certainly doesn’t make me comfortable.”