‘Sucker Punch’ Lands Port Allegany Man in Jail

COUDERSPORT – Jason H. Saltsman, 40, of Port Allegany was sentenced to 2 – 12 months in jail, 1 -2 years of probation, and ordered to pay a fine of $300 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor simple assault and other related charges.

Saltsman was arrested in July of this year for punching another man in the side of the head while in a driveway along Fishing Creek Road. Police say the victim, Scott Manning, was attempting to get a cooler out of the back of Saltsman’s truck, when he began having difficulty. Manning then asked Saltsman for help getting the tailgate open, at which point, according to Manning and another witness at the scene, Saltsman exited the driver’s side of his truck, began yelling at Manning, and then punched him in the side of the head while he was looking the other direction.

Manning told police at the time of the assault he was looking towards a friend who was seated by a nearby home.

Police said at the time of the incident Manning suffered a laceration to his left ear and appeared to have swelling around his left ear and left jaw area.

A witness to the assault told police after the attack he ran towards Saltsman, yelling, in an attempt to stop the assault. Manning said after being punched he was dazed and lying on the ground, and it appeared Saltsman was about to strike him again before being confronted by the witness.

Saltsman, who pleaded guilty to simple assault and related charges earlier this year, was also ordered to perform 20 hours of community service and attend a Potter County DUI Impact Panel Presentation. He was also ordered to have no contact with his victim and to continue anger management classes.

The case was handled by District Attorney Andy Watson. Saltsman was represented by Potter County Public Defender Brent Petrosky. The case was heard by Judge Stephen Minor.