Three charged after juvenile assaulted with brass knuckles
A 17-year-old was charged as an adult last week after he allegedly hit a boy in the face while wearing brass knuckles during a fight at a Connellsville playground.
Connellsville Police charged Jacob Maldonado of Connellsville with felony counts of aggravated assault and rioting. He is charged as an adult in the case. Also charged is Justin Maldonado, 26, and Kenneth Moore Jr., 25, both of Connellsville, who face counts of criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and rioting.
According to the criminal complaint, police were called to South Side Playground at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Vine Street about 2:20 p.m. Sept. 14, where officers found “a large amount of blood all over the roadway.”
Police said the alleged victim and Jacob Maldonado planned to fight there, but instead Moore and the Maldonados surrounded him and began punching the boy. The complaint indicated Jacob Maldonado wore a set of brass knuckles that were visible on a video of the fight viewed by police.
The alleged victim was taken by ambulance to Penn Highlands Mon Valley Hospital with unspecified injuries.
Both Jacob and Justin Maldonado were arraigned before District Judge Ronald Haggerty last week. Jacob Maldonado was released after posting $10,000 bail. Haggerty released Justin Maldonado on $10,000 unsecured bail. Police did not indicate how or if the Maldonados are related.
There is an active warrant for Moore’s arrest.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 5.