Student arrested for allegedly beating woman unconscious
CALIFORNIA – A California University of Pennsylvania student is behind bars after he allegedly assaulted a woman in California Friday night. Michael William Johnson, 19, of Columbia, Md., was charged before Magisterial District Judge Jay H. Dutton with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, harassment and underage drinking following the alleged attack.
According to California police, the incident occurred at a location on Park Street shortly after 10 p.m. Johnson allegedly beat the woman, who was not identified, until she was unconscious.
Police said the woman was flown from the scene by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital following the assault. Her condition was not known Monday.
It was not immediately clear if she is a student at the university.
Johnson was placed in the Washington County Prison on $10,000 straight cash bond, according to California police Chief Richard Encapera. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22.
This is not the first time Johnson has been in trouble with the law in California. According to Washington County Court records, university police charged him with underage drinking, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness following an incident in November 2006.