More Trouble for Franklin Man Accused of Courthouse Assault

| March 9, 2017

ziegler-1FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – Charges against a Franklin man accused of beating up a man in the witness waiting room in the Venango County Courthouse were dropped on Wednesday and refiled later in the day.

Also, according to online court documents, 57-year-old William Eugene Ziegler, of Franklin, was originally charged with simple assault, a misdemeanor, and public drunkenness, a summary. Those charges were refiled on Wednesday.

Franklin Police Chief London said the charges had to be refiled due to a witness not initially showing up.

Ziegler now faces three charges after a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct was added on Wednesday.

According to a previous story on explorevenango.com, Franklin Police said Ziegler was in court on March 1 to testify as a victim in a recent crime.

Police say Ziegler was placed in a private room with other witnesses when he saw a man who he believed had stolen money from him.

Ziegler allegedly struck the man several times with closed fists.

“The victim was unable to protect himself after Ziegler knocked him down and was sitting on him,” said Franklin Patrolman Barnhill in a release issued last week.

“The victim was actually at the courthouse to testify on Ziegler’s behalf.”

Ziegler was also found to be under the influence of alcohol “to the degree that he was a danger to himself and others,” according to Patrolman Barnhill.

On March 8, bail was changed from $10,000.00 monetary to $25,000.00 monetary.

Ziegler remains in the Venango County Jail unable to post bail.

A preliminary hearing on all charges is scheduled for March 15 at 1:30 p.m. in front of Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey.


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