DSP News Release:  Lewes Man Threatens Family with Gun 

Location: 

• 35000 block Cutter Court Lewes, De

DATE and TIME:  

• Wednesday August 17, 2011 8:20 p.m.

Victim(s):

• 45 year old Lewes woman (spouse)
• 22 year old Lewes woman (daughter)

Defendant(s) Charge(s) and Bond Information:

·        Joseph Cataudella Jr-43 Lewes, De

• Trafficking in Marijuana
• Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited
• 4 counts Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited
• 2 counts Terroristic Threatening
• 4 counts Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Possession of Marijuana
• Released after posting $59,800.00 secured bond

 Resume:

Lewes, De-Delaware State Police executed a search warrant for drugs at a residence in the 35000 block of Cutter Court Lewes Delaware after responding to the residence initially for a domestic altercation. 

Wednesday August 17^th Delaware State Police received a 911 call advising that two victims were threatened at gunpoint.  The incident was reported around 8:20 Wednesday evening when Joseph Cataudella Jr-43 Lewes Delaware became involved in a verbal altercation with the two victims. 

The altercation with a 45 and 22 year old Lewes women started when they returned home from grocery shopping.  When the two women began to bring groceries into the residence Cataudella allegedly was angered that the garage door was left open. 

Cataudella told the victims the door needed to be closed so that the smells from his marijuana grow operation would not alert the neighbors.  The argument escalated between Cataudella and the victims which prompted him to retrieve a handgun from another room and point it at the 45 year old victim. 

Cataudella threatened to do bodily harm to both the 45 and 22 year old victims during the incident.  Cataudella shortly thereafter fled the residence and later turned himself into authorities at Troop 4 where he was charged and processed. 

Delaware State Police Sussex Drug Unit executed a search and seizure warrant and seized the following items:

• 9 Marijuana Plants totaling approximately 6 pounds
• Grow lights
• Manufacturing and Cultivating Chemicals
• Watering buckets
• Climate Control machine
• Digital Scale
• .45 caliber Taurus PT1911 used to threaten the victims
• CVA Accura Muzzleloader, Winchester .30 caliber rifle, Marlin 30/30 lever action 336A rifle, 12 gauge Mossberg Ultramag and various quantities of ammunition

  Cataudella was charged with 19 crimes consisting of Trafficking Marijuana, Terroristic Threatening, Weapons and other related drug offenses.  Cataudella was released after posting $59,800.00 secured bond.