Crime & Safety

17-Year-Old Charged as Adult in Musikfest Mugging

Teen held knife to throat of another boy and took his cigarettes and lighter, police say.

A 17-year-old boy accused of mugging another teen at knifepoint at Musikfest is being charged as an adult, according to court papers filed on Friday.

Joshua Michael Schlier of 63 W. Union Boulevard, Bethlehem, allegedly held a kitchen knife to the throat of his victim and demanded that he empty his pockets, taking a Bic lighter and two packs of cigarettes, according to an arrest affidavit.

The incident took place on the 600 block of Masslich Street, an alley just east of Main Street and north of the North Street Parking Deck, at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10.

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The victim told police that he was walking on that block when Schlier, who he knew as “Josh,” asked him to come over. There was a group of other males with Schlier when the encounter took place, police said.

Schlier pulled the knife from a back pocket or the small of his back and threatened the other teen, police said. The victim emptied his pockets to reveal the cigarettes, lighter and a cell phone. But Schlier did not take the cell phone or the bike the victim was pushing, police said.

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“Keep your crappy phone. I don’t want that,” Schlier told the other teen, according to the affidavit. “I never want to see you on my block again. If I see you on my block again, I will put holes in you, slice your throat, and put you in the tub with lime juice. Keep walking or I’m going to take your bike too.”

The victim went straight home, he told police.

Schlier was charged with felony robbery, theft, receiving stolen property and terroristic threats. The affidavit says that Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Michael Thompson approved charging Schlier as an adult.

Schlier was arraigned Friday before District Judge James Narlesky of Hanover Township and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.


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