3 charged in assault of Bowling Green man in his home

2/24/2009

BOWLING GREEN Three men were arraigned Monday for the assault this weekend of a city man.

The victim, Wesley Punches, 21, was taken to a hospital for treatment after he was attacked early Saturday morning inside his residence in the 400 block of South Church Street in Bowling Green. His condition was unavailable.

Brett Rahe, 24, and Justin Happeny, 20, both of Pemberville, and Thurman Lawniczak, 25, of Northwood, were each arraigned on charges of aggravated burglary and felonious assault in the Saturday incident and ordered held in the Wood County jail in lieu of bonds ranging from $45,000 to $50,000. Their preliminary hearings were set for March 2.

Three men forced their way into Mr. Punches residence about 4:10 a.m., knocked him down on the kitchen floor, and then punched and kicked him in the head, police said, citing a report by his roommate who, they said, witnessed the incident and called 911.

The three men told police that they went to the residence after Mr. Punches girlfriend called one of them and accused Mr. Punches of breaking into her apartment and hitting her.