PLEA COURT HEARINGS INCLUDE MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING WOMAN IN APRIL

UPDATE: Shank pleaded guilty today to charges of simple assault and terroristic threats, while charges of harassment and criminal mischief were not prosecuted.  For both counts, Shank was ordered to serve six months to a day less than two years in jail.  Those sentences will run concurrently.

WHAT WE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Several plea court hearings are set for today in Indiana County Court, including one for a Ligonier man charged with assaulting a woman in early April of this year.

43-year-old Dennis Michael Shank is due before Senior Judge William Martin today to enter pleas for a case of assault that happened in Indiana Borough.  Police said on April 3^rd, Shank and a woman were involved in an argument at a home in the 300 block of South 5^th Street over her plan to leave the residence to pick up her children.  Shank demanded that she give him a ride to a friend’s house in Butler instead.  Shank allegedly put her in a headlock and threw her to the ground outside the house, then forced her inside and blocked her way when she tried to leave before assaulting her again.  Minutes later, the victim got in the car to leave, but Shank stood in her way.  When she put the car in motion forward, she made contact with him.  He then tore a windshield wiper from the car, and cracked the windshield and the side mirror housing.

Shank is charged with simple assault, terroristic threats, harassment and criminal mischief.  He has been in Indiana County Jail on $50,000 cash bail.

Also due for plea court hearings today are:

• 37-year-old Darryl Lynn Higgins of Indiana, who faces charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness for an incident on February 2^nd of 2020.
• 24-year-old Shayna Marie Dykes of Erie, who was charged with theft, theft by deception, criminal mischief and receiving stolen property for an incident in July of 2019.
• 37-year-old Oslando Jose Cosme of Butler, who was charged in November of 2018 with theft by unlawful taking and criminal mischief.