Chiropractor waives hearing in physical assault case

A Lehighton-area chiropractor was set to appear in court Wednesday for a hearing on charges from an alleged physical assault which occurred in April.

Dr. John DeMatte IV decided to waive his preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Casimir T. Kosciolek, and the charges will now go to county court.

DeMatte is free after he posted $100,000 bail four days after his arrest on April 18.

His next scheduled court appearance is a formal arraignment on Sept. 10 in county court.

Kosciolek agreed to change the conditions of DeMatte’s bail to allow him to have contact with the victim, who is DeMatte’s wife, to address matters related to their household and business. He also gave DeMatte permission to visit their home when she is not there.

DeMatte is the owner of DeMatte Chiropractic in Franklin Township.

Mahoning Township police charged DeMatte with aggravated assault and two charges of simple assault in April.

According to court documents, on April 18 police went to a local hospital to meet with an assault victim. The woman had a black eye, a cut on her chin, and second-degree burns on her back and right arm.

She told officers that on the morning of April 13, DeMatte threw a hot substance on her. She said he then pushed her to the ground, punched her in the face, and dragged her across the floor by her hair.

She said the attack followed an argument which started the night before.

DeMatte was arrested that day on the assault charges and sent to Carbon County Correctional Facility.

His defense attorney, Brett Riegel, said he believes that the victim wants the charges dismissed. Riegel said they waived the preliminary hearing to focus on making sure both parties could move forward with managing the family and business concerns.

“Dr. DeMatte is looking forward to a resolution that will allow him to focus back on his family, his patients and community he serves, rather than focusing on the criminal process,” he said.