Chambersburg man accused of assaulting woman for second time

ST. THOMAS TOWNSHIP - A Chambersburg man is in jail, accused in a bloody domestic violence case involving a woman whom police say he has assaulted before. 

Richard Harlan Cregger, 56, is charged with one count each of felony aggravated assault, felony strangulation, misdemeanor driving under the influence, misdemeanor unlawful restraint, misdemeanor simple assault, misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person and misdemeanor harassment, and cited with traffic violations, according to court records. 

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Officers were called to an active domestic violence incident at about 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, on Hidden Way. Police found a woman in the neighbor's kitchen receiving medical attention from emergency services for open wounds to her arms, face and head, and severe redness and bruising on her throat. Before she was taken to Chambersburg Hospital, the woman gave a description of the assailant, later identified as Cregger. 

Authorities' were unable to find Cregger back at the home, but documents state they discovered evidence of an assault, including furniture thrown around, chunks of the woman's hair in the living room and kitchen, blood-covered glass and a large pool of blood in the kitchen. 

In a statement, the woman said earlier that evening she and Cregger were at Fran's Inn on North Franklin Street in the borough, where the two were drinking several alcoholic beverages. She told officers Cregger left the area before her, and she met him at the home about an hour later. 

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The woman claimed Cregger began choking her and threw her to the ground as soon as she walked through the door, documents state. Unable to fend him off, he continued assaulting her by strangling her and punching her. The woman told authorities he would not stop no matter how much she pleaded with him. 

Documents show Cregger eventually released his grip on the woman and stood up after she told him she was going to vomit. As he moved away, she then got up from the floor and fled through the back door to the neighbor's house. Police said Cregger tried to follow her, but fell on the floor in the "large amount" of blood.

Cregger was later found sitting in the driver's seat of a car with the keys in the ignition in the Sheetz parking lot on Monticello Court. He was arrested after he got out of the vehicle and was found with blood all over his clothes, according to documents. 

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Authorities searched the car and found a six-pack of Natural Ice beer. Police said Cregger admitted to drinking alcohol throughout the evening, and his eyes appeared bloodshot and glossy. He was later taken to Chambersburg Hospital for a chemical blood test. 

Cregger has been in Franklin County Jail since Monday, denied bail in order to protect the victim.  

Police said this is the second domestic violence incident in which he is accused of assaulting the same woman, and is the fifth domestic violence incident state police have investigated involving him. 

According to court records, Cregger was sentenced in June to serve days in jail for a guilty plea to a simple assault charge. Three other charges, including strangulation, had been dismissed. 

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 27.