Two students have been charged with aggravated assault for allegedly smashing a beer bottle into another student's ear last week.
College senior Bryce LeFort hit College senior Andrew Scharf with a glass beer bottle at Copabanana Thursday
morning, resulting in extensive damage to Scharf's right ear, Penn police say.
The incident allegedly occurred shortly after midnight at the 40th Street restaurant.
Officials from Penn's Division of Public Safety said that LeFort was charged earlier this week, and Wharton junior Stephen Lande was charged yesterday. Officials would not detail Lande's involvement in the case, citing an ongoing investigation.
"I was smashed with tremendous force from behind with a beer bottle," Scharf said in an interview. "The beer bottle shattered, severing a significant portion of my right ear. Unfortunately, it was unable to be reattached by surgeons."
LeFort and Lande refused to comment for this article.
Scharf added that he was assaulted after turning his back and walking away from a
conversation with one of the two people now charged. He said there had been no physical fighting before he was hit with the bottle.
There was "just a brief verbal exchange with one of those individuals charged," he said.
Representatives from the University's Office of Student Conduct would not comment specifically on the case due to confidentiality issues, but said that there are no set repercussions for students facing criminal charges.
According to the protocol listed in Penn's disciplinary conduct code, the students will likely face disciplinary hearings, which could lead to reprimands, fines, suspension or expulsion, in addition to possible criminal penalties.
LeFort is captain of the club sailing seam.
Copabanana manager Mitch Whitaker said that the restaurant immediately removed LeFort from its premises after the incident. Once the extent of damage to Scharf's ear was realized, the restaurant's night manager called an ambulance, Whitaker said.
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