HOLLIDAYSBURG — A Blair County judge denied a bail modification petition made by a city teen accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend after breaking into her apartment in late August.

Dillon Thomas Gority, 19, is being held at the Blair County Prison on $150,000 bail. He faces single felony counts of burglary – bodily injury, criminal trespass, robbery and escape, two misdemeanor counts each of DUI and resisting arrest, single misdemeanor counts of making terroristic threats, possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault, evading arrest, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

At the beginning of the hearing, defense attorney Benjamin Patrick Kahn told presiding Judge Jackie Atherton Bernard that he understood the seriousness of the charges against Gority and the allegations in the criminal complaint. However, he said Gority had been working full time before his arrest, would have family to stay with if the modification was granted, had family present in the courtroom and only had family in Blair County, meaning Gority wasn’t a flight risk.

“He is a very respectful young man from my perspective,” Kahn said.

Kahn asked for Gority’s bail to be modified from $150,000 cash to $150,000 unsecured. If the court didn’t wish to grant unsecured bail, Kahn said he would be okay with Gority being placed under house arrest.

He said Gority had never been released on bail because he’d never been arrested before and had no prior criminal record. By allowing Gority to be released, he would be better able to assist Kahn in building a defense in his case, Kahn said.

Assistant District Attorney Dani McCormick argued against the modification, saying 18 was “very young” to be committing first-degree felony burglary. She said Gority didn’t have a prior record because he “started big” with 17 charges in a single case.

“He didn’t listen to the police on scene, so I find it hard to believe he will listen to the court,” McCormick said in reference to Gority’s evading and resisting arrest charges.

Bernard ultimately agreed with McCormick and denied the petition.

In looking at the allegations against Gority and their seriousness, Bernard said she found his bail to be “appropriately set.”

Gority was taken into custody the morning of Aug. 24 after Altoona police were dispatched to an apartment along the 2400 block of Beale Avenue for an active burglary. Officers allegedly found Gority in the apartment throwing items from a window and, when they tried to contact him, Gority fled out of the building and onto the street. A brief foot chase and physical altercation ensued before police were able to gain control of Gority, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Through their investigation, police learned Gority drove to his ex-girlfriend’s apartment, forced his way inside and went to her bedroom. He then got onto her bed, punched her several times, bit her and threatened her life. The victim was able to force Gority off her and attempted to flee, but Gority took her keys and pepper sprayed her while chasing her. She was then able to exit the building while Gority remained in the apartment to destroy her belongings, the police report states.

Gority’s next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 27.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.