Police: Teen Punched a Sleeping Man in the Head

A Bethlehem teen-ager was arrested on burglary and other charges after he allegedly entered someone’s house, went to the bedroom and started punching the sleeping occupant in the head.

City police said the incident happened at about 7 a.m. Saturday when Brian G. Lichtenwalner, 18, of 234 Wedgewood Road, went to 237 Elizabeth Avenue and attacked Anthony Bennicas as he slept.

Lichtenwalner entered through an unlocked back door, knocked over a table and then went upstairs, according to the affidavit of probable cause. He then returned to the home and barged in while police were getting the details of the attack from Bennicas, the warrant says.

“That’s him,” Bennicas told police, according to court papers. Police arrested Lichtenwalner, who according to the paperwork, smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes and slurred his speech.

Soon after, Lichtenwalner’s mother, Sheila, arrived at the scene and gave police permission to search the car Lichtenwalner had been driving, apparently had an accident in, and she owned, the court record says.

Inside, according to the affidavit, police found a baggie containing marijuana, a wrapper and a nearly empty bottle of Nikolai vodka.

Lichtenwalner was charged with burglary, harassment, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence and consuming alcohol as a minor.

He was arraigned in front of District Judge John Capobianco and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail.

Coplay Man Charged with Throwing, Choking Girlfriend 

A Coplay man was arraigned on domestic abuse charges after he allegedly threw his girlfriend across a room and then choked her, according to an arrest affidavit filed by Bethlehem police.

Andrew D. Roth, 22, of 2101 Juniper Drive, is accused of attacking his victim at her home at 144 E. Fairview St. at a little after 4 a.m. Saturday morning, according to court papers.

After he finished the alleged physical abuse, he also allegedly took a curtain rod and hit walls and a bed frame, causing damage, the court papers say. He also kicked the front door after he left the home, causing another $750 in damage, the affidavit says.

Roth was charged with aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault, criminal mischief and harassment. He was arraigned in front of District Judge John Capobianco and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $5,000.