Man who beat and threatened woman sentenced to prison term

A man who beat a woman and threatened her with a hammer in Tamaqua is headed to state prison for more than two years, in a ruling by President Judge William E. Baldwin October 14.

Lawrence E. Fredericks, Jr., 54, Pottsville, was arrested by Tamaqua Police March 17, 2017. Police had responded to a disturbance on Mauch Chunk Street after a motorist heard a woman calling for help.

On scene officers heard loud voices coming from a residence and went to investigate. A woman answered the door, and as she asked for help, she was grabbed by the neck by Fredericks.

He tried to pull her back into the apartment but was stopped by an officer.

The victim said she had been beaten all night and was threatened with a hammer. There were visible bruises on both arms, from the wrists to her shoulders. She refused medical treatment. Fredericks was charged with simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment.

On the simple assault charge, Fredericks was sentenced to one to two years, and must pay $459.73 restitution to his victim. On the reckless endangerment charge, he was sentenced to one to two years, to run consecutively. On the harassment charge, he will serve 45 to 90 days, consecutive to the reckless endangerment charge. While incarcerated, and upon release, Fredericks must have no contact with the victim.