dme court

An Evans City man had one felony charge dropped and one summary charge added in a Wednesday, July 2, preliminary hearing for an alleged assault in a Zelienople alley.

Assistant district attorney J.P. Culzer withdrew the felony aggravated assault charge against Austin Sammons, 29, and added a summary criminal mischief charge.

District Judge Amy Marcinkiewicz held additional charges of misdemeanor simple assault and disorderly conduct, and summary harassment for court.

Beyond the modifications to charges, Sammons waived the preliminary hearing. A judge at preliminary hearings rules on whether there is enough evidence to support a crime occurred, not if someone is guilty.

Sammons was accused of assaulting a man around 12:30 a.m. May 25 in a Zelienople alley. Police said they responded to the area of North Milton Street and found the assaulted man with bleeding lacerations and swelling to his face.

The man told police he approached a dark pickup truck in an alley behind his home to ask what the occupants were doing. The man received the explanation and reportedly replied it didn’t make sense, which is when Sammons allegedly exited the vehicle and began punching the man.

Police said the assaulted man did not remember how long the altercation lasted and he may have lost consciousness for a short time. The man defended himself by striking Sammons once with his right hand, police said.

Cranberry Township EMS responded to the incident and took the man to UPMC Passavant Hospital in the township. He was later transported to UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh after a CT scan revealed multiple orbital bone fractures and a fractured nose.

Police said they investigated the alley and found a large amount of blood and a hat that didn’t belong to the assaulted man. They also tracked Sammons’ vehicle through surveillance cameras.

Sammons' formal arraignment is scheduled for 1 p.m. Aug. 19 in Butler County Common Pleas Courtroom 5. He is represented by attorney Chelsie Friend.