SAXONBURG — An assault suspect took a shot at serving as his own attorney.

But Joshua K. Sipp's legal dabbling was short lived. It took just one objection from the prosecution before the 24-year-old Clinton Township man called it quits.

His preliminary hearing Wednesday ended barely after it began, with District Judge Sue Haggerty ordering him held for court on charges of terroristic threats, simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.

State police allege Sipp and Michael R. John, 26, got into a fight about 6:30 p.m. May 27 at Jack's Trailer Park in Buffalo Township.

John, who lives there, got the better of the younger man, beating Sipp badly and to the extent that he needed treatment at Butler Memorial Hospital, police said.

Police described the injuries as “severe facial swelling” and that Sipp complained of pain to his head, neck and back. His right eye was swollen shut and he was wearing a neck brace.

Trooper Donald Kotuby testified at the hearing that he spoke to Sipp at the hospital.

“He related to me that he was in physical altercation in Jack's Trailer Park with Michael John,” Kotuby said.

The two men are familiar with each other.

According to court documents, Sipp admitted that he and John “do not like each other because he used to 'hang out' with John's current girlfriend.”

Sipp also acknowledged that he armed himself with a knife during the fight.

“He did say that at some point during the altercation,” Kotuby said, “he did point the knife at Mr. John.”

The trooper said that as part of his investigation he interviewed Sipp's combatant.

“Mr. John advised that the fight mostly occurred inside of Mr. Sipp's vehicle,” Kotuby testified, “and that at one point (they) exited the passenger side.”

That is when Sipp “grabbed a knife from his person and pointed it at Mr. John,” the trooper said in recounting what John told him.

“Did Mr. John indicate to you whether he felt threatened?” asked prosecutor Amanda Scarpo, a county assistant district attorney.

“Yes, he did feel threatened,” Kotuby said, “and also Mr. John did have marks on his upper thighs of both legs.”

But police that night arrested only John, who they charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, harassment and disorderly conduct.

He remains in the Butler County Prison on $10,000 bail.

John also was in Haggerty's courtroom Wednesday for his own preliminary hearing. But he opted to waive the charges to court, after talking to his attorney, public defender Ryan Helsel.

When it came to cross-examining Kotuby, Sipp, acting as his own attorney, had no questions. Scarpo rested her case.

In turn, Haggerty asked Sipp, “What do you want to testify to?”

After a moment or two or hesitation, he replied, “I will testify as to the attack against me.”

But Scarpo immediately objected.

“That's not the basis for this hearing today,” she argued. “We are just here on the charges with respect to (Sipp). Mr. John has waived and we're not concerned with the charges against him at this point.”

Haggerty sustained the objection and Sipp ended his case. He remains free on his own recognizance.