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Ali Baba lounge to reopen this weekend but must have workers on ‘fire watch’

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Danielle Petros

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A lifetime Megan&#8217;s Law registrant accused of assaulting a woman whose hands were bound with duct tape waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Luzerne County Central Court on Friday.</p><p>Charles David Kocher&#8217;s hearing was scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. but just after 11 a.m., a negotiated deal was reached that negated testimony before District Judge Joseph Spagnuolo Jr.</p><p>Under the preliminary deal between Kocher&#8217;s attorney, Thomas Cometa, and Assistant District Attorney Angela Sperrazza, Kocher waived two counts of simple assault and one count each of aggravated assault, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint and strangulation to the county court of common pleas.</p><p>Charges of kidnapping, a second count of aggravated assault and two counts of indecent assault were withdrawn by Sperrazza.</p><p>Hanover Township police arrested Kocher, 45, of Franklin Street, Plymouth, when he was allegedly found inside a vehicle with a woman on Breaker Road on Feb. 9.</p><p>The woman, who is known to Kocher, claimed she was held against her will and assaulted for several hours.</p><p>Kocher allegedly told police he took the woman &#8220;because his wife was being an ass.&#8221;</p><p>According to the criminal complaint:</p><p>The woman told police she was with two relatives at Curry Donuts in Nanticoke, where they were picked up by Kocher for a ride home. Kocher dropped off the woman&#8217;s two companions in the township&#8217;s Breslau section, then drove to the boat launch area where he drank several beers.</p><p>The woman claimed Kocher ignored her pleas to take her home.</p><p>Kocher then drove to Breaker Road and parked near a garage, where he duct-taped the woman&#8217;s wrists together and removed a lace from his shoe to tie around her hands.</p><p>The woman claimed Kocher stunned her at least 10 times with a Taser as she fought back. She reportedly told police Kocher choked her, pushed his elbow against her neck and threatened to kill her, saying, &#8220;I could knock you out if I wanted to.&#8221;</p><p>Kocher is mandated to register his address, employment and vehicles he owns with the state police every three months as a Megan&#8217;s Law registrant due to a 2000 rape conviction in Luzerne County.</p><p>He remains jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $350,000 bail.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_Charles-Kocher-02092018.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Kocher </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_Charles-Kocher-02092018.jpg</photo0><caption0>Kocher </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Lifetime Megan’s Law registrant waives assault hearing