2 Butler men jailed on robbery, assault charges
Two Butler men are jailed, one without bail, on charges they attacked another man Wednesday afternoon before stealing his cell phone and a pack of cigarettes, city police said.
The defendants — Sheldon L. Hile, 22, and Lukus T. Safranek, 23 — admitted they planned the alleged strong-arm robbery by cell phone around 1:30 p.m., according to court documents.
District Judge Wayne Seibel arraigned both suspects on felony charges of robbery, conspiracy, aggravated assault and criminal use of a communication facility. Hile also was arraigned on misdemeanor drug possession charges.
Safranek was already out on bail while awaiting trial in connection with an unrelated robbery last month in the city, when he and Hile were arrested at an apartment on West New Castle Street.
Because of that previous robbery case against him just a month ago, Seibel denied bail for Safranek, citing concern for the public's safety.
He is in the Butler County Prison with Hile, who is being held on $75,000 bail.
Police said that around 1:30 p.m. the defendants assaulted a 21-year-old man who was walking on Liberty Street. The victim, documents said, told investigators that Safranek punched him in the face and slammed him to the ground.
Hile allegedly kicked the man while he was on the ground. The victim recounted that he had a knife that fell out of his pocket during the alleged assault.
He said Hile picked it up, pointed it at him and threatened to stab him, documents said,
The suspects “rummaged through” the man's pockets, according to a police affidavit, and took an Apple iPhone and an unopened pack of cigarettes before running off.
Officers described the victim's injuries as bruising to the face and bleeding around the mouth. He was treated at Butler Memorial Hospital for the injuries.
Police later found the defendants at an apartment on the 300 block of West New Castle Street. Under a bed at the apartment, they seized more than two dozen pills.During an interview with police, Hile admitted that he had placed the pills there. Police said he did not have a prescription for the drugs.Both defendants also acknowledged to “texting each other and planning the robbery,” the affidavit said, which they carried out.Court records showed that Safranek and Hile have criminal histories.On Dec. 10, Butler police arrested Safranek after they say he forcibly took a wallet from another man on Dec. 2 outside the victim's apartment in the 300 block of West North Street.The victim told police that the wallet contained $60, an Access card, two state identifications and an insurance card.Safranek was arraigned on a charge of robbery and released on non-monetary bail in that case, which is pending in Butler County court.His prior record shows convictions for simple assault and disorderly conduct.Hile's convictions include theft, simple assault, disorderly conduct, vandalism, resisting arrest and driving under the influence.
