Case dismissed against W.Va. man accused of assaulting girlfriend in Greensboro
The case against a West Virginia man accused of assaulting his girlfriend with a ceramic figurine in Greensboro in May has been dropped.
Felony charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and robbery were dismissed during Samuel Z. Borelli’s preliminary hearing Monday after the accuser, Tara Riggleman, could not explain in her testimony what occurred during the incident.
That prompted District Judge Lee Watson to dismiss the case and allow Borelli to be released from custody.
Borelli, 31, of Morgantown, was accused of getting into an argument with Riggleman on May 17 in a residence in the 200 block of Stone Street in Greensboro and hitting her with a hair dryer before striking her repeatedly with a ceramic figurine. Cumberland Township police said they found the broken figurine with Riggleman’s hair stuck to it, and she had dried blood on her head.
Borelli’s defense attorney, Timothy Ross, said his client is ready to move on with his life now that the case is closed.
“Mr. Borelli has maintained his innocence throughout this process,” Ross said. “I know these were pretty serious charges, and he’s looking forward to clearing his name.”
Borelli had been held in the Greene County jail on $100,000 since his arrest on June 20. He was released following the preliminary hearing, according to online court documents.