Hempfield man accused of assaulting children, ages 8 and 10

A Hempfield man is being held without bond in the Westmoreland County Prison for allegedly assaulting two children he was watching last weekend.

Treson L. Smith, 25, was arraigned on two counts each of endangering the welfare of children, harassment and simple assault and a single count of strangulation. State police allege he assaulted two children, ages 8 and 10, that he was caring for at a residence along North Greengate Road.

Trooper Zachary Wolford was summoned to the residence just before 2 p.m. Saturday by a relative who reportedly witnessed the incident. Wolford alleges that, during the course of the altercation, Smith choked the 8-year-old, leaving marks on the child’s neck, according to court records.

Smith was arraigned Sunday before Murrysville District Judge Charles R. Conway, who refused to set a bond, indicating in court dockets that he wanted to ensure Smith’s appearance at the preliminary hearing and that he deemed the suspect a potential threat “to the safety of others.”

A preliminary hearing is scheduled Feb. 14 before Hempfield District Judge Mark Mansour.