Police: Man sets up elaborate booby trap in effort to injure girlfriend

BUTLER, Pa. — A Butler County man is facing several charges after police said he tried to booby-trap his house in an attempt to harm his girlfriend.

According to the criminal complaint, Kenneth Robinson set up an elaborate contraption in an apparent booby-trap manner inside his Unionville Road home.

The complaint said Robinson's girlfriend filed a protection from abuse order against him a few days ago, which upset him.

Robinson changed the locks on his home, and when his girlfriend returned home, she couldn't get inside, so she climbed through a window, the complaint said.

The woman told police that once she was inside the home, she found a shotgun and got nervous. She then saw a string attached to the inside door that led to a piece of plywood secured to the ceiling with nails driven through it, the complaint said.

She immediately alerted police. Officers tried the trap once they arrived, and said the board swung down when they opened the door. The pointed end with the nails impacted the door.

"It would have hit the chest area and done some major damage," Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Dan Kesten said.

According to the criminal complaint, the trap was made with plywood, 2-by-4s and 3-inch nails. The complaint said the nails were pounded into the wood so the tips were showing.

Robinson was charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats and other offenses.

Neighbors told Channel 11's Amy Marcinkiewicz that they have noticed trouble at the house before, but they're surprised it allegedly went this far.

"It's shocking. I can't believe anyone would do that," neighbor Michelle Barnes said.

According to police, Robinson told them he set up the trap for security, and to protect himself from break-ins.

WPXI