DA tries to increase Perryopolis man’s bond

UNIONTOWN - A Perryopolis man accused of striking his father on the head with a rifle may have to post more money to remain out of prison while he awaits trial.

Fayette County District Attorney Nancy Vernon said on Monday that she filed a motion to increase the amount of bond set for Gregory Steven Kontaxes, 44, of Quaker Church Road, Star Junction.

Kontaxes has been charged by state police at Belle Vernon with aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment/strike, shove, kick after he allegedly struck his father, Steve Kontaxes, 78, in the head with a .22 caliber rifle during an altercation on Jan. 7.

Vernon told Gregory Kontaxes' attorney, Public Defender Jeffrey Whiteko, that she presented the petition for bail/bond revocation during motions court proceedings Monday morning.

Vernon offered Kontaxes a plea agreement of 5 to 10 years incarceration for the charges which was neither accepted nor rejected because Gregory Kontaxes did not appear for pre-trial proceedings.

Whiteko told Judge John F. Wagner that his client voluntarily committed himself to Highlands Hospital for mental health treatment.

Kontaxes has been released on bond since March 16 when he posted $1,000 cash bail after Whiteko asked the court to reduce bond to $10,000 percentage bond. President Judge William Franks signed the order stipulating that Gregory Kontaxes have no contact with his father.

Vernon's petition requests that bond be increased to $10,000 straight cash or be revoked because Gregory Kontaxes has violated the condition of bond by attempting to contact his father, who remains hospitalized in serious condition and it is still unknown whether the elder Kontaxes will survive.

Vernon indicated that Gregory Kontaxes' attempts at contact have caused alarm to his mother and brother who remain at the hospital with Steve Kontaxes.

Wagner rescheduled Gregory Kontaxes' pre-trial conference for Thursday morning, indicating that the hospital must be notified to prevent Kontaxes from discharging himself.

Police allege that on Jan. 7 an intoxicated Gregory Kontaxes was at his father's residence on Quaker Church Road and began to fight with his father. When the elder Kontaxes was on the telephone attempting to call police, Gregory Kontaxes allegedly struck his father on the head with a .22 caliber rifle resulting in serious injury and severe bleeding.