Two men and a juvenile face felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly beating and robbing a man scheduled to testify against one of them in a criminal case, according to city police Agent Raymond O. Kontz III.
Quincy Michael Drummond, 18, and Malcom Donminiq Hughie, 21, both of 1208 Isabella St., along with a 16-year-old male, attacked Irvin Kent when they saw him walking in the area of West Fourth and Poplar streets about 7 p.m. on Saturday, Kontz said.
"Heard about the court situation?" Drummond asked Kent, according to Kontz.
Kent said he had a letter (a subpoena) telling him that he would be testifying, Kontz added.
This allegedly incensed Hughie. "Hold on. What do mean that you're testifying," Kontz quoted Hughie as saying.
Kent said he was going to testify, Kontz wrote in an affidavit, and this caused Hughie to respond, "So you're going to tell on me."
"I've got a gun on me and could of shot you already," Drummond said, allegedly lifting his jacket to show a handgun inside his waistband, Kontz said.
"Kent tried to tell the three that what they were doing now was not going to help the situation," Kontz said.
"I don't care," Drummond allegedly replied as he punched Kent in the face, knocking him to the ground, Kontz said.
Drummond, Hughie and the 16-year-old allegedly punched and kicked Kent, Kontz said, and then stole his cellphone, backpack and sneakers.
"You better not run your mouth in court or outside to the police," Drummond allegedly told Kent as the three assailants fled.
Kent was scheduled to testify at a preliminary hearing Tuesday against Hughie as a witness to an assault that occurred on the campus of the Pennsylvania College of Technology on Oct. 10, Kontz said.
But Hughie waived the hearing on Penn College Police charges of simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment that stem from him allegedly punching and kicking Duane Rynarowicz several times in the face.
At the conclusion of the proceedings, Hughie was taken into custody at the office of District Judge James Carn on the new charges that include robbery and intimidation of witnesses.
Drummond and the teen later turned themselves in and face the same charges.
Drummond and Hughie were arraigned before District Judge Allen P. Page III. Drummond was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $125,000 bail, while Hughie was jailed in lieu of $75,000 bail.
The 16-year-old was turned over to juvenile probation authorities.
