Three Union City men are facing multiple felony charges, including attempted criminal homicide, following a late-January assault that left a 40-year-old man hospitalized with a stab wound and other injuries.
Charged in the case are Evan Michael Smith, 23; Justin Lee Smith, 39; and Robert Gregory Smith, 43, all of Union City. Court records indicate the three are co-defendants in connection with an incident reported at 12:39 a.m. Jan. 28 in the first block of Park Street.
According to the criminal complaints, Union City police responded to reports of a fight involving four people in the roadway. When officers arrived, they encountered a male victim covered in blood. He was transported to UPMC Hamot, where medical personnel determined he had suffered a stab wound to the back along with additional blunt-force injuries.
Investigators allege the victim was assaulted with fists and a baseball bat and later stabbed during the altercation. Police also reported recovering a metal baseball bat during the execution of a search warrant and locating a knife in a wooded area off Putnam Street. Surveillance video allegedly showed one of the defendants discarding an item in the area where the knife was found.
All three men are charged with criminal attempt–criminal homicide, aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, simple assault, conspiracy to commit simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, harassment and disorderly conduct. Each also faces a charge of possessing an instrument of crime.
Robert Gregory Smith is additionally charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. Justin Lee Smith faces counts of unsworn falsification to authorities and false reports.
Evan Smith was taken into custody during a traffic stop on Feb. 4 and arraigned the following day. He posted $75,000 monetary bail through a professional bondsman and is free pending further proceedings. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 9 before Magisterial District Judge Denise Marie Buell.
Justin and Robert Smith were arrested Feb. 10 with assistance from area law enforcement. Both were arraigned the same day before Judge Buell and each had bail set at $250,000 monetary. Court records show both remain confined in the Erie County Prison after being unable to post bail. Their preliminary hearings are scheduled for Feb. 23.
The cases remain listed as awaiting preliminary hearings in Magisterial District Court 06-2-04.
