An Athens man who is facing a third-degree felony charge of intimidation failed to appear for his jury trial yesterday.
Athens County Prosecutor C. David Warren recommended a warrant be issued for the arrest of Paul T. Fusik, 37, with bond set at $50,000. Fusik previously had been released on his own recognizance. Fusik's attorney, Patty Jamison, had no comment on her client's absence.
The charges stem from an incident that took place Jan. 1 when the Athens County Sheriff's Office received a call that Fusik was threatening to cut his own throat in his trailer home on State Route 56, Sheriff Vern Castle said.
When the police arrived on the scene, Fusik refused to come out of his home, stating he had a loaded shotgun in his possession, Castle said. During the standoff, the officers tried to coax Fusik out while he communicated with the police over the phone and by shouting out his window.
After Fusik did come out of his home, Lt. Darrell Cogar tackled him. Fusik, who had been drinking prior to the arrest, was taken to the Tri-County Mental Health Center to be evaluated, Castle said.
Fusik was previously convicted of domestic violence, according to a May 20, 2002 Post article. A jury of seven women and five men convicted him on May 17 for hitting his wife, Pamela, who later died. He was acquitted of an involuntary manslaughter charge for the same incident because of a hung jury.
Common Pleas Judge Michael Ward agreed to the prosecution's recommendations yesterday in the interest of a speedy trial.
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