Marc Latimore

A bail reduction was denied in Butler County Court on Tuesday for a man charged in an alleged assault-turned-shooting in Penn Township.

Judge William Shaffer denied the request made by Marc A. Latimore, 27, who is currently held in Butler County Prison on $100,000 bail.

Latimore was charged with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault, reckless endangerment and terroristic threats after an incident Nov. 12 at a rental house on Winters Road in Penn Township.

Latimore testified Tuesday, saying he is a veteran of the Army. Because of this, he said he has made an application to the county Veteran's Court. Assistant District Attorney Mark Lope said his office was opposed to a general release from the jail because of the serious allegations and the “somewhat bizarre” circumstances of the case, but was not opposed to a transition to the program through the Veterans Court, which had yet to be approved.

Lope told the court that the charges were a result of a drug deal gone bad, when the victim, who was being transported to drug rehab by her mother, wanted to get high one more time and went to the home where Latimore was.

“The bartering for drugs didn't go well and she was chased out of the home and Latimore fired a gun,” Lope said.

A full story will appear in the Butler Eagle.