A 23-year-old Penn State student was arraigned yesterday for allegedly slicing his roommate's hand after a dispute over dirty dishes.

The victim was not seriously injured and declined medical treatment.

Jason Gayle, originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., faces charges of one count of terroristic threats, one count of simple assault and one count of harassment and stalking.

He was arraigned before District Justice Carmine Prestia Jr. yesterday morning and was released on $10,000 unsecured bail. Because the bail is unsecured, Gayle did not have to post bail money. He is free, but must agree to abide by the special terms agreed upon during the bail hearing.

Gayle is not permitted to return to his residence as a condition of the agreement, said the victim, who asked to remain anonymous.

"Right now I am kind of scared," the victim said.

Gayle could not be reached for comment.

The victim came home Sunday night and went to his room. Gayle allegedly confronted the victim about dirty dishes in the sink.

"It was crazy," the victim said. "He waited in the apartment for me to come home because he was so mad about it."

Gayle told the victim to do the dishes and then an argument transpired, the State College Police Department said. The victim denied that the dishes were his and said he would not clean them. Gayle then left and went to the kitchen, police said.

He returned carrying a meat cleaver in one hand and a large chef knife in the other, police said. Gayle then told the victim that he could not leave the residence until the dishes were cleaned, police said.

"He got all up in my face and said he was going to kill me if I didn't clean," the victim said. "But it wasn't my mess. I was out of town for the weekend."

The victim then walked into the living room. Police said Gayle blocked the only door to leave the apartment, and when the victim attempted to leave, Gayle allegedly began swinging the knives and cut the victim on the right palm area.

The victim then ran out of the apartment and ran into the adjacent apartment, police said.

"I didn't know where to go, so I just ran into the neighbors' place," the victim said. "I wanted them to call 911, but they were so scared of me running up in there that they called the police on me."

The police arrived to respond to the alleged trespass, but later dropped the charges against the victim.

Gayle said he did not throw or swing the knives in any manner, police said.

The victim remains at the apartment where the incident occurred.

"We never really argued about big stuff," the victim said. "I can't believe this happened. It's crazy."