CHICORA — Prosecutors dropped a felony charge of aggravated assault against a Butler man during a district court hearing Tuesday because the alleged victim in the case, which involved a gun being fired in May, was “uncooperative from day one,” according to Assistant District Attorney Russ Karl.

Karl noted that in most cases serious charges aren't dropped at the district level, but in this case the reported victim, William R. Ringler, 47, of Butler wasn't cooperative in the investigation of 34-year-old Seth A. Wike of Butler.

Wike waived his right to a hearing Tuesday for his remaining charges of endangering the welfare of children and terroristic threats in front of District Judge Lewis Stoughton. He is free on $10,000 unsecured bail.

Ringler faces his own criminal charges related to drug possession.

“Your motive goes way down when you're facing your own charges,” Karl said.

Police said Wike fired his gun — for which he has a license — in front of a home on Redbud Road on May 27. Wike discovered that his girlfriend was with Ringler in the home and Wike had driven to the house with his two children to confront Ringler.

He banged on the side of Ringler's home. When no one answered, he allegedly fired a .410 caliber shotgun shell from a Taurus Judge revolver into the ground near the home's door. No one was injured. After a brief confrontation, Wike called the police and went back home.

Police responding to Ringler's home allegedly reported smell odor” of marijuana, and they claimed they found 33 cannabis plants along with other drugs.

Ringler is in Butler County Prison after being arraigned for two felony counts and four misdemeanor counts of drug possession and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $25,000 following arraignment.