A Butler man waived his right to a preliminary hearing Monday, March 2, on homicide and other charges state police filed for the Feb. 19 stabbing death of a man he lived with.

Richard A. Swann, 37, waived his hearing on felony charges of criminal homicide, robbery and aggravated assault; and a misdemeanor count of theft by unlawful taking that was set to be heard by District Judge William Fullerton.

Swann is being held in the Butler County Prison without bail. His next court appearance has not been scheduled.

On Feb. 21, Butler police responded to 416 Miller Ave., where Swan lived with James Paul Hoover, 69, after one of Hoover’s friends reported he hadn’t heard from him since the morning of Feb. 19.

Responding officers found Hoover dead at the bottom of a set of stairs with multiple puncture wounds in his back and injuries to his face and head.

Later that day, Swann called 911 and asked Cranberry Township police to meet him at the township Walmart. A township officer responded and Swan told him he committed a crime in Butler, according to an affidavit. The officer discovered that Swann was wanted on warrants for probation violations from Allegheny and Armstrong counties, police said.

State police arrived at the township police station and interviewed Swann. He told the troopers that a few days ago he decided to rob Hoover and confronted him with a knife and baseball bat. Swann told police he told Hoover that he wouldn’t hurt him if he cooperated, but he said Hoover didn’t cooperate, police said.

Swann told police he hit Hoover multiple times on the head and body with an aluminum bat and then stabbed him multiple times as Hoover tried to get away, police said. He told police Hoover died after he stabbed him.

After the incident, Swann said he left the knife at the scene, took the bat and Hoover’s cellphone and drove from the home to his mother’s house in the township. He told police he stayed there until he walked to the Walmart and called 911.

Neighbors described Hoover as a nice man who helped others.