Felony assault in Yates

TORREY--The Yates County Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate a domestic violence incident that occurred during the early morning hours of Monday, Aug. 6, near Dresden.
Yates deputies have arrested Paul M. Khouzam, 37, of 3188 Guyanoga Road, Branchport. Khouzam is charged with assault in the first degree (class B felony), burglary in the first degree (class B felony) and aggravated cruelty to an animal (felony). He was arraigned in the Town of Benton Court and remanded to the Yates County Jail for grand jury action. Bail is set at $1 million or $2 million bond.
The sheriff's office received a call of the report at 5:52 a.m., Monday, from Seneca County 911. Seven minutes later at 5:59 a.m. deputies took Khouzam into custody walking on Arrowhead Beach Road near the village of Dresden.
Officers found a 67-year-old female victim was bludgeoned and stabbed by dangerous instruments. She was unconscious and bleeding in the basement. Penn Yan Police assisted at the scene. The victim was taken by Penn Yan Ambulance, Advanced Life Support and Dresden First Responder EMS to awaiting Life Net helicopter near Routes 14 and 54 and Medivac to Strong Memorial Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery for head and upper body injuries. Deputies also discovered a small mixed breed chihuahua dog belonging to the victim, allegedly killed by Khouzam, inside the home. A deputy transported the dog to Cornell University Animal Hospital in Ithaca for a forensic autopsy.
Earlier on Sunday, Aug. 5, deputies had arrested Khouzam at 7:22 p.m. in Branchport as a mentally ill person (endangerment to himself or others) and he was taken to Soldiers and Sailors Hospital. He was released from the hospital later in the evening and went to his Branchport address. In the early morning hours, he drove to the Arrowhead Beach address. Investigation shows forcible entry into the residence by breaking a large window by the front door.
The victim is in guarded condition at Strong Hospital Intensive Care Unit.
K9 dogs from Ontario County Sheriff's Office and New York State Police assisted Yates County Sheriff's Office at the scene. Sheriff's investigators sought evidence at the scene by obtaining a search warrant from county court. Sheriff's evidence technicians spent several hours at the scene Aug. 6. The Yates County Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's Office are continuing the investigation.