Steven Knebel

A band practicing for an upcoming coronavirus fundraising event apparently was not music to the ears of one neighbor in Cranberry Township.

Steven W. Knebel, 51, is accused of entering his neighbor's home on Waterview Drive around 9:30 p.m. Saturday and punching the other man in the head, township police said.

Police arrested Knebel on a felony charge of trespass and a misdemeanor charge of simple assault. He also is charged with summary criminal mischief.

Knebel denied wrongdoing, police Sgt. Chuck Mascellino said Tuesday.

The alleged victim, 57, told police that he and his band members were in the basement of his home preparing for a COVID-19 fundraising concert when Knebel showed up at the house, according to charging documents.

He recounted that Knebel was pounding on the exterior front glass door. The victim related that when he opened the interior door, police said, the defendant opened the outer door and stepped onto the threshold.

The suspect is accused of grabbing the other man by the shirt collar and attempting to drag him out of his house.

“At that point,” documents said, “(the victim) advised that Knebel punched him in the right side of the head as they were falling back out of the doorway.”

Both men tumbled off the porch, down the steps and onto the sidewalk. The victim told police that he injured his shoulder, and his gold chain and eyeglasses were broken during the altercation.

Police said the victim's account was corroborated by witnesses and supported by evidence at the scene. Knebel, however, denied entering the home or assaulting the victim, Mascellino said.

District Judge Bill O'Donnell on Sunday arraigned Knebel on charges. He was later placed in the Butler County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail. O'Donnell ordered he have no contact with the victim.

His preliminary hearing is set May 15. Online court records did not indicate if he has an attorney.