Judge Dismisses Assault Charges in Attack on Elderly Pro-Life Advocate

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jan 31, 2008   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Judge Dismisses Assault Charges in Attack on Elderly Pro-Life Advocate Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 31,
2008

Harrisburg, PA (LifeNews.com) — A local judge has thrown out the most serious charges against a 23-year-old man who assaulted an elderly pro-life advocate. Dauphin County Judge Barbara Pianka dismissed the aggravated assault charge against Nathan Richardson, although he still faces misdemeanor charges on simple assault and reckless endangerment.

Ed Snell, 69, was standing atop his automobile and protesting in front of the Hillcrest Abortion Clinic in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania when he was physically attacked and thrown to the ground with enough force to knock him unconscious.

Snell tried to counsel Richardson’s girlfriend, who was entering the abortion center. His words were cut short when Richardson became furious and leaped onto the vehicle to attack Snell.

Snell hit his back and head on the pavement and was knocked unconscious.

His medical report outlined the extent of his injuries, including “multiple trauma, right subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in the area between the brain and the tissues that cover the brain), compression fractures of four vertebrae (T3, T4, T5 and T10), right scapula fracture and fracture of the fourth and fifth ribs.”

According to the Patriot-News, medical personnel took Snell to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center where he was treated and released a few days later.

The paper reported that Richardson’s attorney Alan Michael Ross told the judge Richardson did not intend to harm Snell and that the more serious charges should be dismissed.

A previous editorial at LifeNews.com provides more details about the case.