Man charged with punching, burning woman

A prominent Lehighton businessman has been charged in a domestic incident after police say he threw a hot substance on a woman and punched her in the face.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by police officer Tyler Meek of the Mahoning Township Police Department:

At around noon Thursday, Meek went to the hospital to speak with the victim about an assault that took place April 13 at her residence.

The victim said that on the night of April 12, she and John J. DeMatte IV, 51, had an argument that continued into the morning of April 13.

The victim told Meek that between 7 a.m. and noon, DeMatte threw a hot substance on her.

DeMatte then pushed the victim to the ground and punched her in the face and dragged her across the floor by her hair.

The victim sustained a black left eye and cut on her chin.

The victim told Meek the injuries came from when DeMatte punched her and dragged her on the floor.

The victim’s right side of her back and right arm had second degree burns from when he threw the hot substance on her.

DeMatte faces charges of aggravated assault and simple assault.

He is incarcerated in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 straight cash, and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing May 1 before District Judge Casimir T. Kosciolek of Lansford.