Charges in domestic incident upgraded
Staff writer
Criminal charges first filed Jan. 23 against James R.A. McColl, 51, Lehigh, were dramatically upgraded Thursday.
McColl was arrested Jan. 19 on suspicion of domestic battery and charged Jan. 23 with making a criminal threat and domestic battery.
Now he is charged with attempted murder in the first degree or the lesser offense of attempted murder in the second degree.
He also is charged by County Attorney Michelle Brown with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated domestic battery, and two counts each of aggravated battery and making a criminal threat.
According to a complaint issued in the case, McColl confined Rebecca Devon Wilcox by force or threat with the intent to hold her in order to inflict bodily injury. He also allegedly hit her on the head with a fire extinguisher. She suffered a concussion.
The complaint states McColl blocked Wilcox’s nose and/or mouth, which impeded her breathing or circulation. He also hit her with a butane torch lighter and told her “you will never see your unborn grandchild again,” and “you filthy b**ch, just remember I will bond out eventually,” the complaint states.
Attempted murder in the first degree is a Level 1 felony. Attempted murder in the second degree is a Level 3 felony. Aggravated kidnapping is a Level 1 felony.
The first aggravated battery charge is a Level 4 felony, aggravated domestic battery and the second aggravated battery are Level 7 felonies, and both counts of making criminal threats are Level 9 felonies.
If convicted of attempted murder in the first degree and aggravated kidnapping, McColl could be sentenced to as much as 27½ years in prison.
Lawyer Zach Strella, appointed to represent McColl on the day he first was charged, withdrew Feb. 7, saying he is not sufficiently trained or experienced to represent a client charged with such a high-level felony.
McColl previously was arrested March 5 on suspicion of domestic battery and released May 30 after posting a $10,000 surety bond.
The victim in the first case also was Wilcox.
Then-county attorney Joel Ensey charged McColl in that case March 13 with felony aggravated battery. As part of a plea deal, Ensey reduced the charge to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
McColl pleaded no contest May 30 and was sentenced to time served. All court costs, attorney fees, and fines were waived.