Jul 26, 2016 4 min read

A West Finley man accused of holding his wife hostage for almost two weeks was ordered Tuesday to stand trial on charges including kidnapping and aggravated assault.

Kevin Lee Ewing, 47, of 388 Blockhouse Run Road, was arrested July 8 after Tierne Ewing went into a Racetrack Road credit union to make a transaction but instead asked an employee for help. Kevin Ewing was accused of holding his 48-year-old wife since June 26 after reportedly finding some text messages on her cellphone that upset him.

Tierne Ewing did not testify at Tuesday’s preliminary hearing before District Judge Jay Weller. North Strabane Township police read her statement into the record instead.

Officer Gary Scherer said the credit union employee indicated in a call to 911 Kevin Ewing was in pickup truck in front of the bank and he had guns in the vehicle. Scherer said he pulled behind the truck and ordered Ewing out of the truck at gunpoint, telling him to put his hands up and get out of the vehicle.

Ewing told Scherer he did have guns in the truck. The officer found a rifle and handgun, both loaded, on the backseat of the truck. Scherer said police learned Ewing is not eligible for a permit to carry guns because of a prior record. Ewing also had a spring-loaded knife in his pants pocket when he was taken into custody, police said.

Tierne Ewing was disheveled and hysterical, telling Scherer her husband was going to get her and she was going to die.

While being treated for injuries at Canonsburg Hospital, Tierne Ewing gave Officer Daniel O’Leary a statement detailing her ordeal and the injuries she allegedly suffered at the hands of her husband. The statement was read by Scherer over the objections of defense attorney Benjamin Goodwin.

Tierne Ewing said her husband took her cellphone June 26 and saw text messages that angered him. He allegedly hit her over the head with a gun and punched her. She said he took her to a hospital, where he remained with her while she received treatment. She told Scherer she received staples in her head for the injuries sustained when she was pistol-whipped but was told by her husband to make up a story about how she was hurt.

In her statement, she also indicated her husband placed zip ties around her wrists and hit her knees with a hammer. He also allegedly placed duct tape on her hands and mouth and put her in a closet. She said he also put a rope around her neck and held the other end while he slept, and heated a metal hot dog stick and burned her with it. She said she was afraid for her life if her husband were to be released on bond, telling O’Leary he would kill her.

Scherer said state police obtained a search warrant for the couple’s home on Gunn Ridge Road. He said they found zip ties, duct tape, rope, a large wad of used duct tape and rugs with bodily fluids on them. He later testified to blood being found on a rug.

Photographs of Tierne Ewing’s injuries were presented in court. Scherer said what she told them about what happened to her was consistent with her injuries.

Under cross-examination, Goodwin asked Scherer if there was any indication in the hospital record of a “quad accident.” Scherer said he did not see that in the paperwork Tierne Ewing had with her.

Goodwin argued the charges, with the exception of the weapons violation, should be dismissed because they were based on hearsay. He said the victim does not intend to testify because she fabricated the story. Goodwin said his client categorically denies the accusations.

Assistant District Attorney Kristin Clingerman countered one could not draw that conclusion just because Tierne Ewing did not testify Tuesday.

“This is a very serious case of domestic violence,” Clingerman said. “We have the pictures and hard physical evidence.”

Weller agreed.

“I’m not at liberty to make that jump,” he said of the alleged victim not testifying. “She may be reluctant out of fear for her safety.”

The judge acknowledged there was a lot of hearsay, but said there also was significant physical evidence.

Kevin Ewing also was held on charges of person not to possess firearms, firearms not to be carried without a license, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment and reckless endangerment. He remains free on $100,000 bond but is on electronic monitoring.