Local man to stand trial over chain saw attack
A Fairchance man has been ordered to stand trial on charges filed by state police alleging he cut another man’s arms with a chain saw. Dennis Shane Merrill, 37, of 6 1/2 Delvereese St. was ordered held for court on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.
Magisterial District Judge Randy Abraham ordered the case against Merrill held for Fayette County Common Pleas Court at a preliminary hearing Monday.
Merrill will have a trial or accept a plea agreement in court.
Abraham reduced Merrill’s bond from 10 percent of $100,000 to 10 percent of $50,000, and ordered him to have no contact with the victim.
Wilbur Cummings, 59, suffered severe cuts on both arms and was treated at Uniontown Hospital following the incident, which occurred on his Morgantown Street property on Sept. 4, police said.
Cummings told police that he and Merrill got into an argument over Merrill cutting trees on Cummings’ property and Merrill cut him with his chain saw, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by police.