City woman arraigned in alleged assault, theft

Police: Suspects confess role in October incident

Six people allegedly beat and robbed a woman near Gospel Hill in October, and the first of the alleged assailants was arraigned Thursday, court documents stated.

Altoona resident Emily Eirhart, 19, was arrested Wednesday by Altoona police and charged with robbery, inflicting and threatening bodily injury, aggravated assault, simple assault, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief and tampering with property, for her alleged involvement in the 2020 altercation, according to court documents.

Recently, Eirhart and several co-defendants provided the Altoona Police Department with taped confessions, prompting Eirhart's arraignment, a criminal complaint stated.

In October, Eirhart and co-defendant Jason Z. Sanderlin, 20, plotted to ambush the victim as part of a revenge plot, because Eirhart and Sanderlin blamed the victim for their faltering relationship, police reported.

Sanderlin was allegedly driving co-defendant Kyle Himes' car Oct. 25 with co-defendant Lavelle Nelom and the victim riding as passengers, court documents stated.

When the trio arrived at Gospel Hill, Sanderlin exited the vehicle and called Eirhart, who allegedly drove Himes and co-defendant Janelle McLaughlin to join Sanderlin, Nelom and the victim at the scene, police reported.

Upon arrival, Himes and Eirhart allegedly pounded on Himes' car windows and screamed at the victim to exit the vehicle, according to a criminal complaint.

Eirhart then opened the victim's door and struck her repeatedly until the victim was pulled from the vehicle, police reported.

Once on the ground, the victim's phone was taken from her and she was repeatedly stomped and kicked by McLaughlin, Eirhart and co-defendant Malorie Carter, court documents stated.

A criminal complaint did not clarify how or when Carter arrived at the scene.

The victim later told police she was "semi-conscious" at one point during the attack, police reported.

As the assault occurred, Nelom confessed he took the victim's wallet, which contained nearly $300, a criminal complaint stated.

Multiple co-defendants attempted to destroy the victim's phone during the assault, which was recovered by police after the assault and deemed a total loss, court documents stated.

After the assault, the victim traveled to the Altoona police station and was later transported to UPMC Altoona, where she was treated for abrasions and bruises covering most of her body, police reported.

Eirhart posted $50,000 cash bail on Thursday, and her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 3 with Magisterial District Judge Ben Jones.

Charges were filed against Sanderlin, but he has not yet been arraigned. Charges against the other co-defendants have not yet been filed.

Mirror Staff Writer Ike Fredregill is at 814-946-7458.