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Man accused of biting off part of an ear during fight in Morgantown is arraigned

MORGANTOWN — A 20-year-old who police say bit part of a man’s ear off during a fight was arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrate Court Tuesday.

Dean Schrantz, of Manahawkin, N.J., is charged with strangulation without consent and malicious assault.

According to a criminal complaint, just before 10 p.m. Oct. 2 WVU Police responded to a fight at University Place, on University Avenue.

When the officer arrived the victim was sitting in a kitchen bleeding from his ear, the complaint stated. The wall and floor had blood stains and apiece of the ear was in a bag on ice.

The victim told the officer he was in a fight with Schrantz and Schrantz put him in a headlock until he passed out.

When the victim woke up he was bleeding from his ear, part of his ear was missing and his girlfriend was standing over him asking if he was OK, he told the officer.

The victim’s girlfriend told the officer she saw Schrantz bite the victim’s ear, according to the complaint.

Mon Health EMS transported the victim to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital.

Schrantz was arraigned by Magistrate Jim Nabors and released on $20,000 bond.

Strangulation without consent is a felony and carries a penalty of one to five years in prison and/or a fine of not more than $2,500.

Malicious assault carries a penalty of one to five years in prison or up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $500.

Tweet Will Dean @WillDean_DP; wdean@domininionpost.com