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Judge orders city man to prison

Sipes to start serving sentence for attacking girlfriend 2 years ago after arrest last week on similar charges

HOLLIDAYSBURG — A Blair County assistant district attorney asked a judge Wednesday to immediately send an Altoona man to prison to begin serving a sentence for the assault of his girlfriend two years ago — this after the man was arrested last week for a second offense against the same woman.

Adam M. Sipes, 33, has been free on bond since a 2015 assault of his girlfriend that involved a knife and an attempt to force his way into her home. He also was charged with threats to neighbors who came to her aid.

Sipes was convicted by a jury on July 8, 2016, of the simple assault of the girlfriend, terroristic threats of the girlfriend and neighbors, attempted burglary and criminal trespass. He was sentenced in October.

Assistant District Attorney Derek Elensky at that time argued for a state prison sentence while Sipes’ attorney, John Siford, identified Sipes’ problem as one of anger management, which he contended would not be addressed by a lengthy prison sentence.

Blair County Judge Jolene G. Kopriva told Sipes during that hearing his anger was out of control on the day of the 2015 incident, and she advised him to pursue both mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations and ordered him to follow any recommendations that may result.

Siford told the judge on Wednesday he didn’t know if Sipes had pursued those evaluations.

After the 2016 trial, Sipes announced he would appeal the jury’s verdicts, and Kopriva explained under the law that she had little choice but to grant Sipes bail pending the outcome of the appeal.

Pennsylvania Superior Court in May dismissed Sipes’ appeal after he failed to file a brief.

On June 27, Sipes was arrested again for assaulting the girlfriend based on allegations he punched her in the head and the ribs, and when another person came to her aid, he used a broom stick to strike the woman in the face.

Elensky, becoming aware of the second assault, not only filed a request to revoke Sipes’ appeal bail but filed a request for an emergency hearing to ask Kopriva to order the defendant to immediately report to the county prison to begin serving his six- to 12-month sentence from the initial attack.

Kopriva granted an emergency hearing Wednesday morning, but Sipes was not in the courtroom.

Siford told Kopriva that events in the case have moved so rapidly that he did not have time to notify Sipes of the hearing, and he asked that judge to grant additional time to allow him to contact Sipes.

Elensky expressed his fears for the girlfriend. He said in his nine years in office he has requested an emergency hearing only once before.

The assistant DA also is concerned that Sipes might be a danger to the community.

The judge took note of the prosecutor’s concern and issued an order for Sipes to report to the Blair County Prison today to begin serving his sentence.

But as of late Wednesday, Sipes still had not been told about the judge’s order.

If Sipes does not report to prison today, a bench warrant could be issued for his arrest.

According to state court records, Altoona police patrol officer Eric J. Heuston filed a new criminal complaint against Sipes on June 28, charging him with simple assault and harassment.

He was released on $10,000 unsecured bond by Magisterial District Judge Todd F. Kelly.

A preliminary hearing on the new offenses is scheduled for July 12.

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