Courts.
Austin Gehman, of Hatfield and Perkiomen, remains jailed in Montgomery County on $99,000 cash bail, ahead of a September arraignment
A Hatfield man with an address in Perkiomen Township had charges of felony endangering the welfare of children, as well as five misdemeanor charges, held for Montgomery County Common Pleas Court at a preliminary hearing Wednesday, accused of assaulting and threatening to kill Perkiomen Township residents with a gun.
Austin S. Gehman, 40, was charged by Pennsylvania State Police at Skippack in July with the above felony, as well as misdemeanor unlawful restraint with bodily harm, four misdemeanor counts of simple assault, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, two counts of terroristic threats, and possessing an instrument of crime, according to court documents.
On July 21, 2025 at 10:01 p.m., troopers were called to Seitz Road in Perkiomen Township by a neighbor for a report of a man threatening another person with a gun, per the affidavit.
After arrival, two victims fled the home, “appeared terrified,” and ran toward troopers, screaming that Gehman had a gun, according to the complaint.
A witness at the scene told police that Gehman had fled out the back door of the home into the woods and that he was in possession of a 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol, police said.
More troopers arrived on scene and set up a perimeter, along with local law enforcement. A police drone was used to find the fleeing Gehman in the woods, a few hundred yards from the home, police alleged.
He was taken into custody without incident, and police found a black and brown 9mm handgun near a tree, police said. The gun was loaded with one in the chamber, according to police..
After being read his rights, Gehman admitted the gun was near a tree in the woods, where police found it, according to the complaint. He told police he got into an argument with the victims and then declined to answer further questions regarding an assault, according to the affidavit.
Victims told police they were assaulted due to one of the victim’s passwords being changed on their phone, according to the complaint. One of the victims was also allegedly pushed down rear deck steps by Gehman into the backyard and suffered bruising and finger marks on their cheek, said police.
After the assault occurred in the backyard, Gehman allegedly pulled the pistol out and pushed it against the victim’s forehead, threatening to kill them. He then allegedly pointed it at the second victim’s head and threatened to kill them.
One victim attempted to flee the home via the front door, but Gehman, armed with the gun, blocked the door with his body and intimidated the victim with the gun, police alleged, stating the only way they were leaving, “was with a bullet in (the) head.”
Once troopers arrived on scene, both victims were able to reach safety.
During the incident, a juvenile was sleeping in the home, police said.
The victim told police that Gehman had acted this way before, but the behavior was not previously reported until the victim became scared they were going to die, police said in the complaint.
Gehman remains jailed in Montgomery County on $99,000 cash bail, reduced from $150,000 cash bail per a Common Pleas court order.
Gehman is represented by a public defender. Formal arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 24.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
