Charges dismissed against east end man accused of pulling homeless man off woman, hitting man with bat
SHENANDOAH – The charges against a North Bower Street man accused of felony assault for pulling a homeless man off a woman screaming “get off me” and hitting them with a bat have been dismissed.
Franklin Sterner, 37, of 116 North Bower Street, was facing felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor reckless endangerment and simple assault, and summary harassment charges for the April 29 incident.
According to the criminal complaint filed by State Police, Sterner had been sleeping on the third floor of the Bower Street home while Angelina Velousky was sleeping downstairs.
Those two and Juan Rivas, 30, troopers said, were using drugs the night prior, and that Rivas had been staying at the home the prior two nights.
Rivas left before Sterner and Velousky went to sleep, but, in the morning, Sterner was awoken by Velousky screaming “get off me.”
When Sterner went downstairs to investigate, he told troopers she saw Rivas atop Velousky.
He pulled Rivas off Velousky and a fight ensued, in which they exchanged closed-fist punches. Sterner then grabbed a wooden baseball bat and landed two strikes on Rivas’ head, at which point Rivas left the home to seek aid for his injuries.
Sterner was charged with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor reckless endangerment and simple assault, and summary harassment and committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $10,000 bail. No charges were filed against Rivas.
At a preliminary hearing Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker in Shenandoah, all charges against Sterner were withdrawn.
Sterner was released from prison Thursday.
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