Father, Son Charged In Hagerstown Beating
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- Police say a father and son have been charged with beating and robbing a terminally ill man in Hagerstown over a $70 debt.
The Herald-Mail reports that 58-year-old John Ahalt Sr. and 28-year-old John Ahalt Jr. are charged with robbery and assault. Court records show the pair filed private criminal complaints against the alleged victim, 56-year-old William Sylvester, accusing him of second-degree assault in the same Feb. 14 incident.
Police say Sylvester told officers called to his apartment that the Ahalts were house guests, but the elder Ahalt demanded $70 for "a perceived past debt" and they beat him and took his cellphone.
John Ahalt Sr.'s complaint against Sylvester states there was a disagreement over people smoking crack cocaine and Sylvester punched him, knocking a tooth out.
------
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
