The two Penn State students accused of participating in a fight in March that resulted in one man's eyebrow being bitten off waived their rights to preliminary hearings yesterday.
Brett Evans and Brian Larris, both 22, are accused of fighting outside Tony's Big Easy in the 100 block of McCallister Alley. Evans is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment and stalking, and disorderly conduct, while Larris is charged with simple assault, harassment and stalking, and disorderly conduct. According to police documents, Larris asked Evans to step outside, where the men began to fight. Evans is accused of biting an inch off Larris's eyebrow. Both men sustained minor scrapes and abrasions.
Both men are scheduled to have pre-trial conferences May 22.
The homeless man accused of starting a fire in the back woods of Toftrees Resort, 1 Country Club Lane, waived his right to a preliminary hearing yesterday.
Edward Hollopeter, 43, is charged with risking a catastrophe and criminal mischief, after the State College Police Department responded Saturday to a call in which resort employees complained of smoke. According to police documents, Hollopeter told police that he was attempting to cook hot dogs when nearby leaves and paper caught on fire. As the flames grew, Hollopeter went to the front desk of the resort to report the fire, police said.
Hollopeter is scheduled to have a pre-trial conference May 22.
Two men accused of participating in the March 24 riot were bound over on separate charges at their preliminary hearings yesterday.
Thomas Boob, 21, was bound over on a failure to disperse and a disorderly conduct charge, while State College resident Ryan Diricco, 21, was bound over on a failure to disperse charge. Diricco had two disorderly conduct charges; however, one was dismissed and the other was withdrawn from court.
Police said the men refused to leave the area after they were commanded to disperse. After the orders, police said the men verbally challenged the officers and Boob screamed obscenities. Police pepper sprayed the men and the small group they were standing with and began to move northbound on Locust Lane to clear out the area.
Both men are scheduled to have pre-trial conferences May 22.
A 21-year-old Penn State student charged in connection with a January 19 assault on East Beaver Avenue waived his right to a preliminary hearing yesterday.
Steven D. Baird, of Pittsburgh, is accused of assaulting two other Penn State students shortly after 1 a.m. in front of Acme Pizza, 200 E. Beaver Ave.
Baird was charged by summons with two counts of simple assault and two counts of harassment and stalking.
According to police documents, the victims, one black man and one white man, were punched in the face and head by one or more male assailants. Witnesses told police they heard racial slurs made by someone in the crowd, but at the time, police said they had not been able to determine their source. Baird has not been charged with ethnic intimidation.
Baird's pre-trial conference is set for May 22.
