Milford, PA – November 17, 2025 – A 34-year-old Milford man charged with assaulting his eight-week-old infant is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing tomorrow morning, with prosecutors set to present evidence in the felony case.

Mitchell Edward Wentz will appear before Magisterial District Judge Cristin J. Cavallaro at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, facing two felony charges: aggravated assault on a child under six years of age (F2) and endangering the welfare of a child through a course of conduct (F1). He has been held at Pike County Correctional Facility on $250,000 bail since his October 30 arrest.

The case stems from a disturbing incident that occurred around September 1, 2025, in Milford Borough. According to the affidavit of probable cause filed in the case, Chief County Detective Molly Carson investigated after the Criminal Investigation Division received a Childline report regarding the physical assault of the infant.

The investigation revealed that while the infant’s mother was out walking the family dog, Wentz allegedly assaulted the child by biting the infant’s cheek, scratching the child, and forcefully shoving a pacifier into the child’s mouth. Detective Carson documented the child’s injuries through photographs and video evidence.

The preliminary hearing was originally scheduled for November 4 but was continued to tomorrow’s date.

At tomorrow’s preliminary hearing, prosecutors from the Pike County District Attorney’s Office will present evidence to establish probable cause that the crimes occurred and that Wentz committed them. If the judge finds sufficient evidence, the case will be bound over to Pike County Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings.

Wentz is being represented by Pike County Public Defenders Justin Eugene Pfaff, Esq., and James Robert Elliott, Esq. The Pike County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

When announcing the arrest in October, Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin praised the coordinated response between his office’s Criminal Investigation Division, Pike County Children and Youth Services, and the Sheriff’s Department. “The rapid joint response in this case in all likelihood saved this infant’s life and definitely saved him from further abuse,” Tonkin stated. “My office is fully committed to prosecuting child abusers.”

District Attorney Tonkin reminded the community that reporting suspected abuse is crucial: “Saving children from harm starts with calling Childline. Anyone who believes a child is being abused or sexually exploited should call Childline at 1-800-932-0313.”

Case Status:

• Docket Number: MJ-60301-CR-0000144-2025
• Charges: Endangering Welfare of Children (F1); Aggravated Assault on Child Under 6 (F2)
• Current Status: Held at Pike County Correctional Facility, unable to post $250,000 bail
• Preliminary Hearing: Tomorrow, November 18, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
• Presiding Judge: Magisterial District Judge Cristin J. Cavallaro

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All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.