Several charges dismissed against state trooper in Connellsville home invasion attack

Several charges against a Pennsylvania state trooper related to a Connellsville incident were dismissed Monday during a preliminary hearing.

Charges of aggravated assault, harassment and criminal mischief against Trooper James T. Stevenson Jr., 29, of Connellsville were dismissed in Monday’s hearing. Investigators said Stevenson was off-duty from work at the Uniontown station when he forced his way into a home at 1 a.m. May 26 and assaulted a man.

Other charges, including burglary, simple assault and trespass, were held for further prosecution.

Witnesses testified during Stevenson’s preliminary hearing that he was in a relationship with another state trooper at the Uniontown station, and she was seeing another man, Trib news partner WTAE reported.

According to a criminal complaint, Stevenson barged into an Oak Street home in Connellsville and repeatedly punched a man there, knocking him unconscious. The man testified Monday that he was taken to a hospital for treatment of a broken nose, cut lip and bruised jaw, WTAE reported.

Stevenson is accused of accosting a woman who also was in the bedroom.

Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said prosecutors were disappointed some of the charges were dismissed during the hearing, primarily related to the man’s injuries.

“But ultimately, (that) doesn’t change what happened, is that this individual went into somebody’s house in the middle of the night, uninvited, and committed assault on a romantic rival,” he said.

Stevenson’s attorney Jeremy Davis told the news station that he was pleased the judge dismissed the aggravated assault charge, which he estimated was the most serious offenses against his client.

Stevenson was suspended without pay after his arrest. He remains free on $20,000 bail and is scheduled for formal arraignment Sept. 19.