A Portsmouth man faces charges of attempted aggravated murder and felonious assault, after Portsmouth Police say they believe he stabbed and struck a woman several times.

Police arrested Kevin D. Coston, 23, of 1513 Fourth St., in the attempted murder and felonious assault of Joanna Pimentel, around 28 years of age, of Portsmouth, and placed him in the Scioto County Jail.

Portsmouth Police were called to Southern Ohio Medical Center on a call concerning a female assault victim. Once there, officers spoke with the suspect about the incident.

According to the police report, Coston made statements that officers believed to be deceptive.

Portsmouth Police Detective Andy Dawes said he spoke with Coston and obtained a verbal confession to his involvement in causing Pimentel’s injuries.

Officers say Coston was brought to the Portsmouth Police Department where he confessed to attacking the victim with a knife and then striking her with either his hand or another object.

That is when he was charged with cutting the victim an undetermined amount of times causing grave harm to her, and thereafter, striking her with a metal broom handle and possibly with his hands.

Pimentel was taken to SOMC where they report she was transferred to Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, West Virginia. Charles Shoemaker of Cabell Huntington Hospital was unable to provide information on Pimentel’s condition.

FRANK LEWIS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232 or flewis@heartlandpublications.com