Charges Reduced Against Cecil Man Involved in SWAT Incident

The most serious charges against a Cecil Township man who was accused of pointing a gun in the faces of several people in his home and then allegedly shooting two holes in his ceiling—causing a SWAT team to be called to the residence—were either withdrawn or downgraded during a hearing Monday.

Joseph J. Kovan, 41, of 13 Charles St., was originally charged by Cecil Township police with aggravated assault, making terroristic threats and discharging a firearm into an occupied structure—all felony counts.

On Monday, the firearm charge was withdrawn, the aggravated assault charge was amended to a simple assault charge, and the terrorist threat charge was downgraded to a misdemeanor by district Judge Valarie Costanzo.

Kovan waived those charges to court.

Police were summoned to the Kovan residence on Nov. 22 after a call came in about an incident involving weapons in the home.

While three other adults in the home were able to safely exit the home, a criminal complaint states that Cecil Township police were unable to make contact with Kovan, at which time the Washington Regional SWAT Team was called out, according to the complaint.

Washington Regional negotiators were able to able to get the man to walk out of the house, a criminal complaint indicated.

While he was arraigned that night and remanded to the Washington County Jail on $100,000 straight bond, that amount was also amended Monday. Costanzo amended it to a $100,000 percentage bond.