By RANDY BARTLEY
Staff writer
Clarion County Senior Judge James Arner Feb. 7 sentenced Matthew Duane Atcheson, 38, Brookville, to at least 20 years in a state prison for the 2018 attempted murder of a New Bethlehem man.
Atcheson was originally charged with attempted criminal homicide and aggravated assault, both as first-degree felonies; aggravated assault as a second-degree felony; two counts of simple assault, a second-degree misdemeanor; and one count of recklessly endangering another person, also a second-degree misdemeanor, at 11:45 p.m. Oct. 27 at Desperado’s Bar in New Bethlehem Borough.
Several of the charges were merged and Arner sentenced Atcheson to serve 20 to 40 years on the attempted murder charge, 33 months to 66 months on the aggravated assault charge and six to 20 months on the recklessly endangering charge. The sentences will run concurrently. He will be given credit for 466 days he has already served in the Clarion County Jail.
Atcheson was found guilty on all counts following a three-day jury trial.
According to police reports and court documents, state police Tpr. Derek Weaver from the Punxsutawney barracks responded to a reported assault which “was going to turn into a homicide” at Desperado’s Bar.
Arriving at the bar, Weaver was told Atcheson had cut the throat of a 27-year-old New Bethlehem man.
Additional state troopers arrived at the bar around 1:20 a.m. Oct. 28 and observed an excessive amount of blood throughout the bar. The troopers also found and seized a black and gray “buck knife.”
A fourth trooper interviewed a female bartender who was working when the incident occurred.
The bartender told police Atcheson had been in the bar several times that evening beginning around 7 p.m.
Due to his behavior, he had been asked to leave several times, but according to the bartender, he returned several times.
Atcheson allegedly became involved in an argument with the male victim after the male victim asked Atcheson to calm down.
Atcheson then became involved in a physical altercation with a female identified as his wife. Atcheson was told to leave the premises.
However, Atcheson allegedly returned to bar again and “started to cause problems.”
The bartender told police she heard Atcheson tell the male victim, “I’m going to (expletive) stab you.”
The bartender said she heard an altercation near the pool table followed by patrons yelling to call 9-1-1. The bartender said she saw the victim using his hands to cover a wound on his neck.
A male witness told police he saw Atcheson kicked out of the bar three times and verified the bartender’s account of the events.
The male witness said he saw Atcheson arguing with the victim and the witness said he saw a knife in Atchison’s pocket. The male witness said he shouted to warn the victim of the knife and believes the victim heard the warning.
The male witness said he saw Atcheson pull the knife from his pocket, open the knife and cut the victim’s throat.
The male witness said he then saw Atcheson run out the back door of the bar.
Investigators reviewed a video surveillance tape of the incident which confirmed the witnesses’ accounts of the events.
Prior to his sentencing Atcheson said “nothing good ever comes from drinking or going to bars.” He said that, considering his age, that his life was “over.”
He was remanded to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.