Felony charge dropped at hearing
CHICORA — Prosecutors dropped a felony charge of aggravated assault against a Butler man during a district court hearing Tuesday because the alleged victim in the case, which involved a gun being fired in May, was “uncooperative from day one,” according to Assistant District Attorney Russ Karl.
Karl noted that in most cases serious charges aren't dropped at the district level, but in this case the reported victim, William R. Ringler, 47, of Butler wasn't cooperative in the investigation of 34-year-old Seth A. Wike of Butler.
Wike waived his right to a hearing Tuesday for his remaining charges of endangering the welfare of children and terroristic threats in front of District Judge Lewis Stoughton. He is free on $10,000 unsecured bail.
Ringler faces his own criminal charges related to drug possession.
Police said Wike fired his gun — for which he has a license — in front of a home on Redbud Road on May 27. Wike discovered that his girlfriend was with Ringler in the home and Wike had driven to the house with his two children to confront Ringler.
This is an excerpt of a story that appeared in Wednesday's Butler Eagle.
