Man charged in hit-and-run enters 'not guilty' plea

September 30, 2012

The Elk County Courthouse

RIDGWAY - A St. Marys man charged in connection with a July 28 hit-and-run that left 21-year-old Natasha Schmitz in critical condition entered a not guilty plea in waiving his arraignment on charges related to the incident.
Dean G. Schatz, 41, of East Eschbach Road, St. Marys, entered a plea of not guilty and waived his arraignment on felony charges of aggravated assault by vehicle and accidents involving death or personal injury. Schatz is also charged with providing false reports to law enforcement authorities-falsely, providing false reports to law enforcement authorities-ficticious, and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, as well as duty to give information and render aid-report of accident to police.