Metro

Three city residents are behind bars and a fourth is facing additional charges after allegedly coordinating the assault of a witness to the crime that resulted in the fourth individual being incarcerated.

Ashley Aurandt, 29, Erickson S. McKinnon, 36, Taivon Robert Mitchell, 27, and Sidney L. Hill, 39, were arraigned Friday by Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio on single felony counts of intimidating a witness/victim – refrain from report, conspiracy to intimidate a witness/victim – refrain from report, retaliation against a witness or victim, conspiracy to commit retaliation against a witness or victim and misdemeanor counts of simple assault and conspiracy to commit simple assault.

Aurandt also faces a misdemeanor count of making false reports, while Mitchell faces an additional misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.

Aurandt, McKinnon and Mitchell were remanded to the Blair County Prison after they were unable to pay their respective $40,000 bails.

The case against Hill remains inactive as he was already being held at the Blair County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail in a separate but related case in which Hill allegedly assaulted Aurandt.

Hill faces two felony counts of aggravated assault, a felony count of strangulation and misdemeanor counts of simple assault and making terroristic threats in that case.

The charges against Aurandt, McKinnon and Mitchell came after Altoona police were dispatched to the area of 1230 14th Ave. for a report of an assault. The victim, who had called police, was previously a witness to Hill allegedly assaulting Aurandt and contacted authorities, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

The victim told officers Aurandt had set him up to be assaulted for contacting police, which resulted in Hill being jailed. Aurandt had asked the victim to walk to Dollar General with her and, once they were on 14th Avenue, a silver sedan pulled over near them. McKinnon waited in the driver’s seat while Mitchell exited the vehicle and approached the victim, the police report states.

The victim told officers that Mitchell struck the victim in the face with a closed fist before running and getting back into the vehicle. McKinnon then drove him away, the report states.

Officers noted an abrasion below the victim’s eyes that was bleeding.

Aurandt told officers she and the victim were walking to the Dollar General when a man wearing a ski mask exited a gold car. She was against the wall in shock while the man struck the victim before fleeing in the car. Aurandt then texted Mitchell in front of officers that “it’s crazy (the victim) just got attacked” and asked officers how the victim knew Mitchell assaulted him if the man was wearing a mask, the report states.

During their investigation, officers obtained jail calls between Aurandt and Hill in which they discussed a “paint job,” if it was done and if he got paid for it. In the call, Aurandt told Hill that, if questioned, she was “going to say it is about painting the apartment” and she “asked (Mitchell) to help me paint,” the report states.

After being read her rights, Aurandt told officers she assisted in the assault because “Sidney was mad at (the victim) for calling” and that “(the victim) was the reason Sidney was in jail.” She then showed officers text messages between herself and Mitchell, in which she tells him where she and the victim are. Mitchell responded that he was “going to pounce on (the victim),” the report states.

Aurandt, McKinnon and Mitchell are scheduled for separate preliminary hearings April 15 in front of DeAntonio.