A Massachusetts man who allegedly assaulted a Franklin Pierce University student is expected to move forward with a plea and sentencing hearing next month.
Travis Flagg, 19, of Gardner, Massachusetts was charged with second-degree assault after an altercation with FPU student Alejandro Lopez-Wheeler, 23 in December of 2018. Flagg, who is not a student at the university, was attending a party where he and Lopez-Wheeler allegedly had at least two verbal exchanges. During the second exchange, in the parking lot of the Lakeview dorms, Lopez-Wheeler allegedly “joked” about attempting to kiss Flagg. Flagg allegedly punched Lopez-Wheeler, causing him to fall backwards and strike his head on the parking lot pavement, causing a split skull and resulting in Lopez-Wheeler’s hospitalization.
The injury caused Lopez-Wheeler to suffer neurological failure and a severe traumatic brain injury, which caused permanent hearing damage, memory issues, balance issues, according to court documents.
The case against Flagg at the Cheshire Superior Court in Keene was initially scheduled for jury selection this week. However, jury selection has been canceled, and Flagg is expected to submit a plea and move forward with sentencing in a hearing scheduled for Nov. 12.
According to court documents, Flagg allegedly broke his parole conditions in September, when he was arrested for allegedly vandalizing a vehicle in Gardner by breaking a window on Sept. 28. Flagg broke the window following a party where he allegedly consumed alcohol.
Following the arrest, Assistant Cheshire County Attorney Jean M. Kilham filed a motion requesting the revocation of Flagg’s bail, on the grounds that he had committed a crime, consumed alcohol and violated his 10 p.m. curfew, all requirements of his release on personal recognizance bail following his assault arrest.
Initially, Superior Court Judge David Ruoff issued a warrant for Flagg’s arrest for breaking bail conditions, on Oct. 2, but then vacated that warrant five days later, after which the scheduled jury selection and trial were canceled and a plea and sentencing hearing were scheduled instead.
The plea and sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 12 in the Cheshire Superior Court in Keene.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.