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Floyd Powell, 25, of Nanticoke, also facing unrelated burglary charges.
NANTICOKE – Police accused a man of assaulting his pregnant girlfriend Monday night and receiving more than $3,000 in stolen property in July.
Police allege Floyd Powell, 25, kicked and punched Shaqkita Welch during an argument in their apartment on East Washington Street. Welch is four months pregnant and was treated at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital because of her pregnancy, police said.
Police Capt. William Shultz said Welch had informed police that the alleged assault didn’t harm her unborn child.
Police further allege Powell took part with Jesse James Hartman, 23, in stealing items during burglaries from several apartments on East Union Street, where they then resided, on July 14. Several items were found in a vehicle commonly driven by Powell, police allege.
Hartman is facing several counts of burglary, criminal trespass and conspiracy, according to the office of District Judge Donald Whittaker in Nanticoke.
Powell was arraigned on Thursday on two counts of simple assault, and one count each of aggravated assault of an unborn child, recklessly endangering another person and harassment. He was separately arraigned on a single count of receiving stolen property.
Powell was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $20,000 total bail.
According to the criminal complaints:
Welch told police she was arguing with Powell inside their apartment when he destroyed a television and her cell phone. She claimed Powell kicked and punched her in the stomach two or three times and struck her in the face.
Welch left the apartment and Powell followed her outside, where he continued to yell at her. She reentered the apartment and locked the door, which Powell kicked in, the criminal complaint says.
Powell then took off in Welch’s Jeep, police alleged.
Welch told police she wanted her vehicle returned and didn’t want Powell arrested. Shultz said police pursued the charges because of Welch’s pregnancy.
Police allege in the criminal complaints that they found various tools and other items stolen from apartments on East Union Street on July 14 in a Chevrolet Blazer that Powell commonly drives.
Powell denied he took part in the burglaries and claimed the SUV was stolen, according to the criminal complaint.
Preliminary hearings on the separate charges are tentatively scheduled on Sept. 29 before Whittaker.