It’s been a turbulent stretch for Gavin McKenna, and Friday brought a bit of a turning point - though not a full reprieve.
The 18-year-old, who found himself facing four criminal charges less than a week ago, saw the most serious of them - aggravated assault - dropped. That decision came after prosecutors and police reviewed video evidence tied to the incident.
Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna confirmed the news in a press conference, stating, “The district attorney’s office and the State College Police Department have reviewed video evidence of this incident and do not believe that a charge of aggravated assault is supported by the evidence.”
That charge, a felony, carried the heaviest potential consequences - up to 20 years in prison. So, while this development certainly lightens the legal load McKenna is carrying, his situation is far from resolved.
He’s still facing three other charges, including simple assault - a misdemeanor, but one that can still carry a sentence of up to two years behind bars. It’s worth noting that in Pennsylvania, first-time offenders often receive probation or fines rather than jail time, but that’s not guaranteed.
The remaining charges - harassment and disorderly conduct - round out the legal picture for McKenna at this point. And while those are lesser offenses, the cumulative impact of all three charges still paints a serious legal scenario for the young man.
In Pennsylvania, the bar for proving aggravated assault is high. Prosecutors must show that the accused caused bodily injury with an “extreme indifference to human life” - a legal threshold that often makes these cases difficult to pursue unless the evidence is clear-cut. That standard wasn’t met here, according to the authorities, which is why the most severe charge was dropped.
There’s also been chatter online - unverified, at this point - that McKenna may have been provoked verbally before the alleged altercation. But DA Cantorna made it clear that no matter what was said, it doesn’t excuse what followed.
"Verbal argument never, never justifies physical violence," Cantorna emphasized.
McKenna’s preliminary hearing was originally set for Wednesday, February 11. As of now, there's been no official update on whether that date remains in place.
So, while one major legal hurdle has been cleared, McKenna’s case is still very much active. There’s more to unfold in the coming weeks, and all eyes will be on how the remaining charges play out in court.