Top NHL draft prospect Gavin McKenna is facing only misdemeanor prosecution after the Centre County District Attorney dropped the aggravated felony assault charge on Friday.
According to the DA's office, the Penn State freshman still faces a simple assault charge and other minor offenses resulting from his alleged assault on a 21-year-old man Saturday night.
This is a significant development in the case because the felony charge carried a maximum of a 20-year prison sentence if McKenna was convicted. The DA's explanation of eliminating that charge is that video of the altercation didn't support McKenna acting with "intent to cause serious bodily injury or acted recklessly under circumstances showing an extreme indifference to the value of human life."
That's standard necessary to prove aggravated assault. The confrontation occurred at Doggie's Pub near Beaver Stadium where Penn State had played an outdoor game against Michigan State earlier in the day.
Police reports say McKenna delivered blows that caused fractures to both sides of the man's face that were severe enough to require surgical repair. The altercation came after McKenna and his friends exchanged words with the victim's group.
Penn State officials have had no comment about the incident. McKenna faces a preliminary hearing next Wednesday. The Nittany Lions' next game is Friday against Michigan in Ann Arbor. McKenna, 18, from Whitehorse, Yukon Territories, started the season as a clearcut No. 1 prospect for the June draft. But over the past couple of months, he has fallen to No. 2 on some lists.
.png){kind=spacer}