by peter e. bortner
PORT CARBON - Charged with assaulting a child in July in Minersville, and Ronald J. Babarsky will have to answer those charges in Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday.
Babarsky, 18, of 202 W. Coal St., Shenandoah, said nothing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko except that he understood the charges against him and the rights he was waiving.
Plachko bound over all charges against Babarsky - two counts of simple assault and one each of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children and harassment - for the county court.
Plachko allowed Babarsky to remain free on $25,000 percentage bail, which required the defendant to post $2,500 and had been set July 24 by Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville. Plachko conditioned bail on the defendant having no contact with the alleged victim or his family.
Minersville police charged Babarsky with assaulting a boy between 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. July 13.
Police said the alleged victim told them that while he was under Babarsky's care, the defendant told him to sit down.
When the boy did not do that, Babarsky charged him, grabbed him by the throat and began choking him until he passed out, according to police.
Then, Babarsky dropped the boy on his face in front of 119 S. Third St., police said.
"I did observe severe bruising to his neck, face and also observed that his right eye was bloodshot," Minersville police Patrolman Jason A. Klouser wrote in the Affidavit of Probable Cause he filed in the case.
Assistant Public Defender Paul G. Domalakes, Babarsky's lawyer, declined to comment Thursday on the case.
Assistant District Attorney Rebecca A. Elo said she is happy the situation did not turn out worse.
"It's a very sad situation, but we're happy that the victim is recuperating and doing well," she said.Defendant: Ronald J. Babarsky
Age: 18
Residence: Shenandoah
Charges: Two counts of simple assault and one each of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children and harassment