Top NHL prospect Gavin McKenna won’t face felony assault charge
Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna will not face a felony assault charge after allegedly punching another man in the face twice during an altercation last weekend.
A criminal complaint filed Wednesday by the State College Police Department charged McKenna with first-degree aggravated assault — which in Pennsylvania is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine — as well as misdemeanor counts of simple assault, summary harassment and summary conduct.
The Center County, Pa., district attorney’s office announced Friday it was dropping a felony assault charge against the 18-year-old Canadian, who is expected to be a top pick in this year’s NHL draft.
“In order to establish probable cause for the crime of aggravated assault, the Commonwealth must establish that a person acted with the intent to cause serious bodily injury or acted recklessly under circumstances showing extreme indifference to the value of human life,” the District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
“The District Attorney’s Office and the State College Police Department have reviewed the video evidence of this incident and do not believe a charge of aggravated assault is supported by the evidence.”
The office added that “prosecution will continue with the misdemeanor of simple assault and other summary charges as they relate to the serious injuries suffered by the victim.”
The alleged incident occurred around 8:45 p.m. Saturday near the Penn State campus, hours after McKenna had a goal and two assists in the Nittany Lions’ 5-4 overtime loss to Michigan State in an outdoor game played at Beaver Stadium.
“The complaint alleges that the victim was struck twice on the right side of the face by the defendant following an exchange of words between the alleged victim’s group and the group of people with Gavin McKenna,” prosecutors wrote. “The complaint further alleges that the victim suffered fractures on both sides of his jaw that would require surgery and was missing a tooth.
“Follow-up by State College Police confirmed that the victim suffered two fractures to one side of his jaw, not both sides of his jaw, and was not missing any teeth. The victim underwent surgery and is recovering.”
