Lancaster, PA – A Rapho Township man charged with strangling his roommate and later threatening her to stop her from testifying against him will face trial in county court following recent preliminary hearings.
Judge Michael Hess ruled on Sept. 3 that the cases against Steven A. Grabowski, 39, will proceed to the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas. Grabowski faces charges of strangulation and simple assault in one case, and two counts of intimidating a witness along with a stalking charge in another.
Authorities said the initial assault happened the evening of June 20 at a residence on the first block of Lancaster Estates, where Grabowski and the victim shared a home. Police reports state that Grabowski, upset during an argument, pushed and strangled the woman around 9 p.m. while trying to take her cellphone. The victim suffered arm injuries and bruising on her neck.
In late August, weeks before a scheduled preliminary hearing, Grabowski allegedly sent threatening text messages to the same victim. Police said the messages warned she would “never get to see her son again” if she appeared in court but suggested she could move back in with him if she stayed away from the hearing.
Screenshots of the messages were turned over to investigators, leading to additional charges. Grabowski, who had previously been free on $10,000 unsecured bail, was ordered held in Lancaster County Prison on a combined $60,000 bail.
Manheim Borough police officers Hudson Hughes and Michael Klock filed the charges.
Key Points
- Steven A. Grabowski, 39, faces strangulation, assault, witness intimidation, and stalking charges.
- Prosecutors allege he assaulted his roommate in June and later threatened her ahead of court testimony.
- Grabowski is being held in Lancaster County Prison on $60,000 bail.
The courtroom showdown will now shift to Lancaster County’s Court of Common Pleas.
