JACKSON TOWNSHIP, PA — A 59-year-old Stroudsburg man is scheduled to face formal arraignment in January on felony strangulation charges after prosecutors say he attacked a family member three times during a heated argument over his deceased mother’s estate.

Leonard Bryce Gearhart, who posted $15,000 bail following his October arrest, will appear before Judge Stephen M. Higgins on January 5, 2026, at Monroe County Court of Common Pleas. The case underscores how family conflicts over inheritance can escalate into violence.

Case Information:

• Docket Number: CP-45-CR-0001991-2025
• Charges: Strangulation (F2), Simple Assault (M2), Disorderly Conduct, Harassment
• Status: Awaiting formal arraignment
• Next Court Date: January 5, 2026

Estate Dispute Turned Violent

According to Pennsylvania State Police records, the confrontation occurred October 5 at a residence on Neola Road in Jackson Township. What began as a verbal disagreement between Gearhart and a family member over his deceased mother’s estate quickly escalated into a physical assault.

Trooper Craig Karpinski of the PSP Fern Ridge barracks documented the victim’s account in a criminal complaint. The victim reported that Gearhart strangled them on three separate occasions during the altercation, with the victim feeling their airways closing each time.

The repeated nature of the strangulation—stopping and then resuming the attack—indicates a sustained assault that prosecutors will likely emphasize as the case proceeds to trial.

Serious Charges Filed

Gearhart faces four criminal charges stemming from the October 5 incident:

• Strangulation (Felony 2) — The most serious charge under Pennsylvania statute 18 § 2718, which specifically addresses applying pressure to the throat or neck. This offense carries potential prison time of five to ten years.
• Simple Assault (Misdemeanor 2) — For causing bodily injury
• Disorderly Conduct — For engaging in fighting
• Harassment — For subjecting another person to physical contact

The strangulation charge is particularly significant. Pennsylvania law treats strangulation as a second-degree felony due to the extreme danger it poses. Medical experts note that strangulation can cause death or serious injury within minutes and often leaves victims with lasting physical and psychological trauma, even when external injuries aren’t immediately visible.

Case Moves Forward to County Court

The case, which originated in Magisterial District Judge Daniel Kresge’s court, has now been transferred to Monroe County Court of Common Pleas. Gearhart is represented by Stroudsburg attorney Thomas P. Sundmaker, while the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution.

Court records show Gearhart posted bail through surety bondsman Christopher Todd Gorman on the day of his arrest and has remained free while awaiting trial.

What’s Next

As Gearhart’s case proceeds through the court system, he faces the possibility of significant prison time if convicted on the felony strangulation charge alone—up to a decade in state prison.

The formal arraignment on January 5 will be the next step in the legal process, where Gearhart is expected to enter a plea to the charges. From there, the case could proceed to trial or potentially be resolved through a plea agreement.

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Gearhart is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The formal arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on January 5, 2026, before Judge Stephen M. Higgins at Monroe County Court of Common Pleas.