A Penn student will face reduced charges of simple assault after allegedly severing part of another student's ear with a beer bottle two months ago.
College senior Bryce LeFort will be charged with misdemeanor simple assault after being arrested for his involvement in the Oct. 5 assault of College senior Andrew Scharf with a beer bottle. The incident, which occurred at the 40th and Spruce St. Copabanana, resulted in permanent damage to the top portion of Scharf's right ear.
When LeFort and Wharton senior Stephen Lande - who originally was charged in relation to the crime - were arrested on Oct. 10 and 11, respectively, they both faced felony charges, including aggravated assault and engaging in criminal conspiracy against Scharf.
Yesterday, at the preliminary hearings for the case, Scharf's defense withdrew charges against Lande and reduced the charges against LeFort on the condition that LeFort pleads guilty to simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime with intent to harm and recklessly endangering another person.
Pennsylvania appellate criminal records show the charges have been dropped and reduced for Lande and LeFort, respectively.
Aggravated assault is considered a felony since it necessitates purposeful infliction of injury upon another, whereas simple assault is a second-degree misdemeanor charge, according to Pennsylvania penal code.
Aggravated-assault charges could have resulted in over 10 years in prison and $50,000 in fines for LeFort and Lande. The lesser charge of simple assault can result in a maximum of six months in prison and a fine of $500.
Judge Jimmie Moore ruled that the case will be remanded for trial to a Philadelphia lower court on Jan. 30.
Originally, LeFort and Lande were set to have separate hearings on Nov. 22 and Dec. 6, respectively. At the Nov. 22 hearing, the preliminary hearings were combined and moved to yesterday, in accordance with the settlement between the defense and the prosecution.
Sources present at the time of the assault, who have requested anonymity because the case is still open, assert that, after a minor verbal altercation between the two, Scharf poured a pitcher of beer on Lande, and Lande responded by punching Scharf, leading to the incident.
How LeFort allegedly broke the bottle over Scharf's ear is still not completely known.
Scharf has maintained that the alleged attack upon himself was not provoked.
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