SMETHPORT — An Emporium man was arraigned Friday for allegedly assaulting another man at McKean County Jail, where both were incarcerated.

Gregory Burdick, 32, of 60 Sycamore St., is charged with retaliation against a witness, a third-degree felony; simple assault, a second-degree misdemeanor; and harassment, a summary offense.

According to court records, on April 5, Burdick was a cellmate with Darren Donovan, 25, of Emporium, both men charged in a methamphetamine case in Emporium. In the Emporium case, Donovan was a witness against Burdick.

At the jail, Burdick approached Donovan from behind and struck him in the back of the head, at which point Donovan fell forward and cut his nose on the cell door. He fell to the floor, where Burdick continued striking him, court records stated.

Police interviewed Burdick, who said Donovan “got what he had coming to him,” court records allege. He told police that Donovan was trying to pin everything on him for the meth allegations in Cameron County, but he was innocent.

In this case, Burdick was returned to jail in lieu of $15,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in Central Court on Thursday.