SHENANDOAH - The most serious charges against a 23-year-old Shenandoah man charged with attacking a woman with a knife on July 22 were withdrawn Thursday.
Prosecutors withdrew two felony counts of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor charge of recklessly endangering another person that were filed against Maurice Antwan Townsend, 231 W. Oak St.
Assistant District Attorney Douglas Taglieri had two reasons for withdrawing the charges.
The victim, Cindy Arias Gilbert, Shenandoah, did not suffer serious bodily injuries required to support the charges and evidence does not show Townsend intended to inflict such injuries, Taglieri said.
Afterward, Townsend waived his right to a hearing on misdemeanor offenses of simple assault and disorderly conduct and a summary count of harassment. He was then taken back to the Schuylkill County Prison, where he remains in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Shenandoah Patrolman Christopher Zubris charged Townsend with an incident that occurred about 7:30 p.m. at 219 W. Cherry St. in the borough where officers found Gilbert with a large laceration to her upper right arm.
The woman, an independent newspaper carrier for The Republican - Herald, was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, where she was treated for the wound and later released.
Witnesses identified the attacker as Townsend, also known as "T-Rex," and said he fled east on foot on Cherry Street, Zubris said.
An investigation showed Townsend and Gilbert got into a argument in the street, during which Townsend pulled out a knife and sliced Gilbert's arm.
A woman who was in the area said Townsend confronted her and said, "Touch me and I'll slice you," Zubris said.
About 8:15 p.m., Zubris said Mahanoy City Police Lt. John Kaczmarczyk received information that Townsend was seen on East Washington Street and turning onto North Bower Street.
Zubris said several police units went to the scene in the 100 block of North Bower Street and took Townsend into custody without incident.
During a search of the man, Zubris said a small folding knife was found in the man's right rear pocket and taken as evidence.
