MASSENA - A Massena man was charged threatening to stab his father-in-law in the stomach and face during an argument late Saturday morning at a Franklin Street residence.

Village police charged Ronald J. Joubert, 20, listing a 64 Franklin St., Apt. 1, Massena, address, with second-degree menacing. He was arraigned by Acting Massena Village Justice James M. Crandall and released under the supervision of the probation department on the misdemeanor count with a stipulation that he abide by the terms of a temporary order of protection directing him to stay away from his father-in-law, Jeffrey C. Kirkey.

Mr. Kirkey told police he went to his daughter’s Franklin Street residence Saturday morning to take her car shopping and received a cool greeting from his daughter’s estranged husband, who was at the residence and started swearing at him and ordering him to leave the residence.

He started coming at me quickly with firsts clenched by his side. I told him he better make it a good shot because he was going to be arrested,” Mr. Kirkey noted in the statement he signed for police.

“Ronald then grabbed a big knife off the stove and pulled it back as he lunged at my stomach with it. I was able to move out of the way of the knife. Ronald then pulled the knife back again and swung it at my face, but I was able to pull my head back to avoid it,” he added.

Mr. Kirkey said he then left the residence, went to his vehicle and called police. Joubert said he left his residence and had started walking to his friend’s home on Maple Street when he was picked up by police.

Joubert suggested he was simply trying to defend himself. “He stepped toward me. Yesterday he kicked in the door while I was on the toilet. Whatever happens happens. Me and my wife split up, and we have been trying to get back together. I’m just trying to work stuff out with my wife,” he told Judge Crandall.

Joubert’s wife, Megan R., 18, also of 64 Franklin St., Apt. 1, Massena, had been charged with second-degree harassment, fourth-degree criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child Friday afternoon following a separate domestic dispute.

She was charged with engaging in a physical altercation with Kaylee M. Ashley, 22, a woman described in court papers as Mr. Joubert’s girlfriend.

Mr. Joubert was reportedly at his estranged wife’s residence watching the couple’s one-year-old son and his girlfriend arrived at the residence shortly after his wife left. When Ms. Joubert returned home, she reportedly engaged in a physical altercation with Ms. Ashley and then stomped on her cell phone.

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