Most serious charges withdrawn in brass knuckle beating case
CHICORA — The most serious charges have been withdrawn against two Butler County men suspected of assaulting another man last month in Clay Township.
State police initially charged the defendants — Robert M. Codispot Jr., 29, of Clay Township and Joshua A. Fajohn, 28, of West Liberty — with using brass knuckles in the alleged beating.
They were arrested and arraigned on felony and misdemeanor counts of assault and other charges in the April 13 altercation at Codispot's home that left Justin M. Angerett, 26, of Slippery Rock hospitalized with a reported broken jaw.
But in wake of the investigation and after Angerett was a no-show at Tuesday's preliminary hearings for Codispot and Fajohn in Chicora, prosecutors said they decided to withdraw felony charges of aggravated assault.
Also withdrawn were charges of possessing an instrument of crime and possessing a prohibited offensive weapon, both first-degree misdemeanors.
Russ Karl, a Butler County assistant district attorney, said the decision was made because Angerett didn't appear at the hearings and because police were “unable to find evidence of a weapon used” in the incident.
Attorney Michael Zunder, who represented both defendants at the proceedings, declined to comment afterward.
Read more about the case in the Butler Eagle.
