Allegheny Township police accuse man of assault, stealing gold chain after inviting acquaintance to smoke weed

An Allegheny Township man is accused of beating a man and stealing an $1,800 gold chain that he ripped from the man’s neck after inviting him to take a ride to smoke marijuana, according to authorities.

George Zachary Senko, 37, of Dewey Alley was charged with a felony county of robbery and counts of theft, receiving stolen property, simple assault and criminal mischief in connection with an incident May 15.

He was being detained in the Westmoreland County jail in lieu of a $50,000 cash bond and was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec on May 30.

The day after Senko was charged with robbery, Allegheny Township police arrested him on a felony charge of possession of drugs with the intent to deliver. They also charged him with two counts of drug possession and one count each of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia along with two traffic citations.

The preliminary hearing before Peck Yakopec for those charges also is scheduled for May 30.

Police wrote in the criminal complaint charging Senko with robbery that a man came to the police department May 15 to report that he was walking near the intersection of Byrd Street and Shaner Road about 3 p.m. when a car pulled up with Senko, whom he knew, in the front passenger seat.

The man told police that he got into the rear of the car after Senko invited him to smoke some marijuana, the complaint said.

But when he got into the seat, Senko turned around and began punching him in the head, face and neck, the complaint said.

The man told investigators that Senko grabbed two gold chains he was wearing. A small one was damaged, but Senko wasn’t able to pull it off.

The man said Senko was able to pull off a large gold rope chain with a gold and diamond charm before the man was able to break free and exit the car, the complaint said.

Police said the man had red marks and swelling on his face, neck and head.

In February, state police charged Senko with misdemeanor counts of making terroristic threats and harassment for an incident in Parks Township, according to court records. A preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled for June 15 before District Judge James Andring.

On May 4, Kiski Township police charged Senko with misdemeanor counts of harassment, ethnic intimidation and disorderly conduct. A hearing on those charges also will be held before Andring on June 15, court records show.