A Hempfield man is awaiting sentencing Aug. 29 after pleading guilty this month in connection with a stabbing at an apartment complex near Slippery Rock University.
Brennan James Steeley, 24, pleaded guilty to a single count of felony aggravated assault, according to court records. Charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment and a second count of aggravated assault were dismissed under a plea agreement with the Butler County District Attorney’s Office, records show.
State police were called at 4:20 a.m. Jan. 15 to a party Steeley was hosting at The Grove apartments off Harmony Road in Slippery Rock Township, less than a mile from the university entrance, according to court papers.
A part goer was stabbed in the neck with a knife after Steeley asked him to leave. Those at the party were using marijuana and drinking alcohol, and Steeley told investigators he suspected the wounded man had drugged everyone there and intended to harm them, according to court papers.
Steeley had never been a student at the university, a spokesperson said at the time of the arrest. He is free on $25,000 bail. The wounded man previously was enrolled in the university but wasn’t a student.
Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.