SHAMOKIN - One of two suspects being sought in connection with a May 26 assault of a man in Zerbe Township who suffered serious facial and rib injuries turned himself into authorities Monday morning and was arraigned on felony offenses.
Richard Lee Lahr III, 31, of 1044 W. Spruce St., Coal Township, was arraigned at 11:30 a.m. by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III on two felony counts of aggravated assaults and one misdemeanor count of simple assault relating to the assault of Brian Kitchen, 47, of Coal Township, in a mountainous area known as the "Sands" in Zerbe Township. Kitchen suffered two broken eye orbits, a broken nose and two broken ribs that required him to be treated at a local hospital, police said.
The charges were filed by Zerbe Township Police Chief Robert John.
Lahr, who turned himself over to Constable Glenn Masser, told the judge he was on probation for a DUI offense. Gembic set bail at $10,000 cash, which Lahr couldn't provide. The defendant was committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury on the new set of charges and for violating his probation. He is scheduled to face a preliminary hearing on the assault charges July 24.
Masser said Ronald C. Bowman, 33, of 908 W. State St., Coal Township, is wanted on the same charges in connection with the assault. Anyone with information regarding Bowman's whereabouts is urged to contact Masser at 490-9821 or Zerbe Township police at 797-4637.
At his arraignment, Lahr told Gembic he had been living in a cabin in Union County for some time and knew there was an arrest warrant for him. "I was just scared and agreed to turn myself in," he said. "I thought it was smart to lay low for awhile, but it was time to man up and do the right thing."
Lahr denied reports that he had left the state and told the judge he doesn't have a driver's license.
Lahr said he hasn't seen Bowman since he spotted him at Jeep races awhile ago. He described Bowman as an "acquaintance."
The defendant said he plans to "definitely fight the charges" and has secured the services of Attorney Vincent V. Rovito.
According to a criminal complaint, John received a telephone message at 11:14 a.m. May 29 to call Kitchen, who claimed to have been assaulted between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. May 26 at the "Sands."
Kitchen told police he and his wife, Sharon, and some friends were talking with other people when a red Ford Explorer pulled up and parked next to his Jeep before backing into the driver's side rear of the Jeep. Kitchen said he then went to see if his Jeep had been damaged. After not spotting any damage on his vehicle and a broken taillight on the Explorer, Kitchen told the driver, who was later identified as Bowman, not to worry about it, before returning to his wife and friends.
A couple minutes later, Kitchen said he went over to his Jeep to get a drink when Bowman came around the back of his vehicle while Lahr, who was a passenger in the Explorer, went around the front. Kitchen told police he thought Bowman was going to apologize for striking his Jeep. But when Kitchen extended his hand, Bowman punched him in the face, while Lahr hit him in the back of the head, police said. Kitchen said he then fell to his knees and was dazed.
At that point, Kitchen said he put his arms and hands up to protect his face, but Bowman and Lahr started punching and kicking him in the back and front rib area.
Kitchen said Bowman and Lahr ran from the scene and fled in the Explorer. Kitchen said a couple of his friends pursued Bowman and Lahr, but were unable to catch them.