CLEARFIELD – A Morrisdale man has been accused of stabbing another man in the back with a pocketknife almost a dozen times.
Lonnie Ranger Schmoke Jr., 26, has been charged by the Punxsutawney-based state police with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor terroristic threats and simple assault.
Schmoke waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail. His bail is currently set at $100,000.
The charges stem from a report made during the early-morning hours April 9 from a Patchin Highway residence in Burnside Township, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the office of Magisterial District Judge Jim Glass.
State police were advised that the victim was at the emergency department at Conemaugh Miners Medical Center, Hastings, and had wounds consistent with having been stabbed in the back.
During an interview with the investigating trooper, the victim said he and his wife had an argument earlier in the night about company they had over at the house.
His wife’s son, Schmoke, became “irate,” and allegedly pulled out a pocketknife, pointed it at the victim and commented, “I will stab you.”
The victim said Schmoke “lunged” at him and he “bear-hugged” him in an effort to protect himself. However, Schmoke allegedly began stabbing him repeatedly in his lower back.
After he fell to the ground, he said Schmoke struck him in the back with his knee and or foot, and this forced his face into the wall. Schmoke fled the scene.
A neighbor told state police she saw Schmoke as he fled, and he looked at her and stated, “I stabbed him.” Witnesses also confirmed they saw Schmoke fighting with the victim, fleeing the scene and the victim with a “bloody” back.
The victim suffered 10 to 11 stab wounds that were one to two inches long and one-and-a-half to three inches deep; a laceration to his left forearm; a scratch to the left side of his face; and an abrasion to his forehead, plus two broken ribs, state police said.
