Three Penn State Students Charged in November Assault

State College police on Tuesday charged three Penn State students for their alleged involvement in a Nov. 4 assault that left a man hospitalized, according to court documents.

Valentino Scarpone, 21, and Keith Onimus, 22, were charged with one count each of felony aggravated assault, second-degree misdemeanor simple assault and summary charges of harassment and disorderly conduct.

Joseph Keffer, 22, was charged third-degree misdemeanor simple assault and summary counts of harassment and disorderly conduct.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, a fight broke out near Champs Downtown, 139 S. Allen St., after a verbal argument over a Philadelphia Phillies game escalated into the alleged victim being “jumped.”

Police said that surveillance video showed Scarpone and Onimus “had the opportunity to separate” on multiple occasions after fighting ceased but “continued to physically re-engage the victim.” Both suspects allegedly were observed “striking and kicking the victim in the head and torso areas” multiple times throughout the entire altercation.

Keffer is also accused of striking the man, but for a shorter period of time.

The man was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center for facial swelling, discoloration around his eye, jaw pain, a facial contusion and “several injuries to his body,” according to court documents.

A Penn State spokesperson said Scarpone, Onimus and Keffer are currently enrolled at the university, but left open the possibility of further disciplinary action.

“Any student found to have violated the student code of conduct – whether on campus or off — also will be held accountable by the office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response,” the spokesperson wrote in an email.

The preliminary hearing date for all three is scheduled for March 15.