Staff Report

Stephanie Marie Guevara

Scott Daniel Koontz

WINONA LAKE — Two people were arrested after a domestic incident involving a knife.

Stephanie Marie Guevara, 37, Mansfield, Ohio, is charged with intimidation with a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony; domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor.

Scott Daniel Koontz, 29, 1938 E. Timberline Circle North, Warsaw, is charged with domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor; disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor; and domestic battery with a prior, a level 6 felony.

On July 30, a Winona Lake Police officer went to a residence regarding a fight in progress. The officer was told one of the individuals involved may be in possession of a knife. Upon arrival at the scene, the officer saw Koontz and Guevara standing next to their vehicles.

Guevara told the officer she had an argument with Koontz.

According to court documents, Koontz said that during the altercation, he had taken a knife from Guevara and threw it toward a canal. Guevara said she used the knife in an intimidating manner. She allegedly said the argument occurred because of the knife and that she took Koontz’s phone to keep until she got the knife back. The officer then interviewed Koontz and Guevara separately about the incident.

Guevara told the officer the argument began when the two were sitting in her vehicle. She offered Koontz a light bulb for a headlight that was out. However, Koontz became angry and Guevara told Koontz to leave her vehicle. When he refused, Guevara pulled out a knife and used it to intimidate Koontz so he would leave.

Koontz then grabbed the knife and threw it toward a canal. Guevara exited her vehicle, went to Koontz’s vehicle, and punched the windshield, causing it to break. After this, Koontz pushed Guevara to the ground, causing multiple scratches to her finger, wrist, elbow and knee.

The officer then spoke with Koontz, who provided a story similar to Guevara’s. He said he grabbed the knife from Guevara and threw it because he was upset. Koontz also said Guevara threatened him with the knife and broke his vehicle’s windshield.

Koontz said he pushed Guevara to the ground. When she got up, Guevara hit Koontz in the head.

The knife used in the incident was found in a grassy area.

Koontz was previously convicted of domestic battery in October 2015.

Guevara has already been arrested and released on her own recognizance.

Koontz has a pretrial conference on Oct. 6.