A Penn Township man charged with knocking a man unconscious while assaulting him will have his case proceed to county court following a preliminary hearing earlier this month. 

Judge Joseph Stauffer ruled June 11 that the case of Kiras Matthias Hollinger, of the 100 block of Sunny Slope Lane, could proceed to the Court of Common Pleas on charges of aggravated assault and simple assault.

Hollinger, 20, is accused of punching the victim multiple times inside a residence in the first block of Penn Valey Village in Penn Township the afternoon of May 31. The victim was knocked unconscious for several hours and sustained serious bodily injuries as a result of the assault.

When speaking to police Hollinger claimed the victim had attempted to sexually assault a woman in the residence, after which he punched the victim in the head three or four times, causing him to fall onto the floor. After the victim fell to the ground Hollinger continued to punch him until he noticed he was unconscious, he said.

All three of the people present for the incident had been drinking, Hollinger told police.

The woman who Hollinger claimed he was protecting told police no sexual assault occurred. Rather, she said, Hollinger punched the victim in the head and knocked him unconscious.

Hollinger remains in Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Officer Brayden Brandt filed the charges.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.