Retired New York Police Officer Abused Wife For Years: Sheriff

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL -- A retired New York City police officer is facing aggravated assault charges after being accused of pointing a handgun at his wife for not cleaning the house and doing the laundry.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office arrested Stephen Pascone, 60, for the incident that occurred on Oct. 15, 2017, after Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Mary Handsel issued a warrant for his arrest on Feb. 25.

According to court documents, Pascone is accused of holding a revolver to his wife's head and threatening to kill her and bury her body.

Court documents say he later placed a different handgun to his wife's head and had her drop to her knees as he reprimanded her for not cleaning their New Port Richey home.

According to court records, the wife did not report the threats out of fear that he would kill her.

The wife, who is living in another part of the state and is not being named by Patch, told the courts that her husband of 23 years abused her verbally, physically and emotionally throughout their marriage.

She said she finally took action on Aug. 24, 2018, when Pascone strangled her and threw her in the pool, knowing she cannot swim.

An investigation by the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office brought the gun threats in 2017 to light. The victim said that was the first time he had threatened her with a gun.

Pascone was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and being held at the Land O' Lakes Detention Center on a $100,000 bond.

(For more local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)