Evidence review leads to dropped assault charge for Penn State’s McKenna
Penn State hockey player Gavin McKenna will continue to face misdemeanor charges after Centre County prosecutors dropped the most serious assault allegation against him following a review of evidence tied to an altercation last weekend, District Attorney Bernie Cantorna said Friday.
Cantorna said his office dismissed the aggravated assault charge because proving it would have required showing McKenna acted with the intention of causing serious injury or with extreme indifference to the value of human life. The district attorney said video evidence supported that decision.
Although a police complaint alleged the complainant had injuries on both sides of his jaw and was missing a tooth, Cantorna said subsequent investigation showed there were two fractures to the same side of the man’s jaw and that no teeth were knocked out. Cantorna said the complainant was recovering from surgery.
Cantorna said McKenna remains charged with misdemeanor simple assault, along with harassment and disorderly conduct. He said the preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for March 11.
The case centers on an incident that occurred hours after Penn State lost to No. 2 Michigan State in an outdoor game at Beaver Stadium. Canadian McKenna, 18, is a freshman center from Whitehorse, Yukon.
A phone message seeking comment was left late Friday for McKenna’s lawyer, Jason Dunkle. McKenna’s attorney was not immediately reached for response.
Cantorna’s office said the felony aggravated assault charge was dropped after the evidence review. McKenna previously committed to Penn State after the NCAA lifted its ban on Canadian Hockey League players competing at the Division I level, and he joined the program with a name, image and likeness deal with the Nittany Lions.