Penn State men’s hockey star Gavin McKenna was charged with aggravated assault on Wednesday, February 4, after an altercation that occurred the night of January 31. As of Friday afternoon, McKenna’s assault charge was dropped.

A lot of court, legal, and police documents have come out over the past 48 hours, and we are going to break them down for you and explain.

The Charges

McKenna was originally charged with four different offenses, but here is a breakdown of the three that stand.

McKenna was charged with misdemeanor simple assault. This covers intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury. It covers the immediate physical harm caused by the initial act. In this case, due to McKenna punching the victim twice, there was immediate swelling and bleeding, which led to this charge.

He was also charged with harassment. This charge applies when someone strikes or makes physical contact with the intent to harass or annoy. According to the affidavit, the altercation began with an exchange of words between McKenna’s group and the victim’s friends before escalating into physical contact. That verbal lead‑up, combined with the punches, gives prosecutors grounds to argue that McKenna acted with the intent required for a harassment charge.

Lastly, he was charged with disorderly conduct. This focuses on the public nature of the incident. This statute applies when someone engages in fighting or other violent behavior that causes public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm. State College Police said that the incident occurred on a busy night in downtown State College after a Penn State men’s hockey game. By throwing punches in that setting, prosecutors argue that McKenna created a public disturbance and risked drawing in or alarming bystanders. This charge usually results in a fine.

He was arrested on Wednesday night, and his bail was set to $20,000.

Additional Details

Under Penn State’s Intercollegiate Athletics Code of Conduct, McKenna’s incident may also prompt internal review from the athletics department, which requires all student‑athletes to comply with University policies, NCAA and Big Ten rules, and all applicable laws while upholding values such as integrity, respect, and personal responsibility. The Code specifically prohibits violent behavior, harassment, and conduct that compromises the dignity or safety of others, standards that apply regardless of whether the athlete is on or off the field. While the University typically waits for developments in the legal process before taking action, the Code gives Penn State the authority to evaluate whether a student‑athlete’s behavior aligns with its expectations and to impose consequences ranging from team‑level discipline to referral to the Office of Student Conduct.

What’s Next?

McKenna’s next step in the legal process is a preliminary hearing, which is scheduled for the morning of February 11. The magisterial district judge will determine whether the evidence is strong enough for the case to move forward on all three charges. If the charges are held for court, the matter could then be sent to the Centre County Court of Common Pleas in Bellefonte, the higher trial court where most felony prosecutions eventually continue. In Centre County, magisterial district judges rotate through Common Pleas assignments, so the judge who handles the preliminary hearing may not be the same judge who oversees later proceedings if the case advances.

McKenna will enter the formal pre‑trial phase, where his attorneys can review the video evidence, witness statements, and medical records referenced in the affidavit and begin negotiating with prosecutors or preparing motions.