Courts.
In a negotiated guilty plea, a 21-year-old Hilltown Township man was not prosecuted on felony kidnapping and false imprisonment charges for attempting to slit the throat of a woman and stabbing her twice as she tried to escape but will face two to five years in state prison for aggravated assault.
Jacob Robert Cantando, of Blooming Glen Road, Hilltown, pleaded guilty last week to the felony offense, as well as misdemeanor counts of simple assault, unlawful restraint, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats, and possessing an instrument of crime in the June 28, 2024 incident, according to court documents. He was sentenced by Bucks County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey L. Finley, who credited Cantando for 220 days of time served.
Cantando, who was free on 10% of $250,000 cash bail, was not prosecuted on two felony kidnapping charges, aggravated assault, and misdemeanor charges of false imprisonment and simple assault, per court documents.
He must undergo drug and alcohol, and mental health evaluations.
Hilltown Township Police received a call at 3:13 a.m. June 28, 2024, for a well-being check on a possible stabbing in the area of Miller Tire Co., 856 Blooming Glen Road, police said. The caller told police the victim had called them to report she was stabbed and was in the area of Blooming Glen Road, per the complaint.
The caller told authorities that the victim Facetimed them, stating “He has a knife to my throat, he’s trying to kill me,” police said in the affidavit. The caller had attempted to send an Uber to pick up the victim.
Then, police heard screaming coming from the north on Blooming Glen Road. Officers drove north on the road, to find the victim running toward police and away from a man, identified as Cantando, police allege.
“Help me!” the victim screamed as she ran past the police and their vehicle, per the complaint.
“She doesn’t deserve this power!” yelled Cantando, police said. “I’m going to jail for this!”
After refusing to listen to commands, and after a brief foot pursuit, Cantando was detained and placed in the patrol vehicle, police said.
The victim spoke to police, and told them she was stabbed twice by Cantando, police said. The victim recounted to officers that Cantando showed up at a home in Perkasie Borough, where the victim was hanging out with friends, per the affidavit.
Police said Cantando told the victim he would kill her and her friends if she did not leave with him. Cantando and the victim ended up at the victim’s house, where, police allege, Cantando put his arm around the victim’s throat, holding a red Swiss Army knife to the left side of her throat.
Cantando, police said, threatened to kill her if she did not go with him to his Blooming Glen Road home. Fearing for her life, the victim got in Cantando’s car, police said.
When she attempted to leave Cantando’s home to get the Uber at Miller Tire Co., Cantando, police allege, would not let her leave, stating he would kill the Uber driver and the victim if she attempted to leave.
Then, police said, Cantando began stabbing himself inside his home. The victim tried to escape, but Cantando kept blocking the door, police said.
Cantando then Facetimed a friend of the victim’s and told them, “You’re going to watch this b---- die tonight,” police allege in the affidavit.
Police said Cantando tried to slit the victim’s throat, but a blanket protected her throat from the knife. As the victim struggled to get away, she was stabbed in the left hand and above the left knee, police said.
Police found a puncture wound to the victim’s lower left thigh, and a laceration wound on her left hand, per the complaint. A red Swiss Army knife was recovered from the scene, police said.
Cantando was represented by Bensalem attorney Paul Lang.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
