From staff reports
An Oil City man facing attempted criminal homicide charges in connection with a 2016 stabbing is scheduled to go to trial next month.
Online court documents say 37-year-old Ruben Craig’s trial will begin Monday, Aug. 14, and will continue on Aug. 15, 17 and 18 in Courtroom II at the Venango County Courthouse.
Craig is accused of stabbing Shawn Schillinger on May 30, 2016, during an altercation in the area of East Third Street in Oil City.
Schillinger’s right lung was punctured, his liver was lacerated and the back side of his chest cavity was punctured, causing it to fill up with air.
In addition, Schillinger developed MRSA and pneumonia on top of returning to the hospital due to liver bleeding after being discharged.
Schillinger died Jan. 12 at UPMC Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh at the age of 44.
Craig was taken into custody in August 2016 and charged with first-degree felony counts of attempted criminal homicide and aggravated assault, as well as a second-degree felony count of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor count of recklessly endangering another person.
In an unrelated case, Craig was convicted in February of two felony counts of possession of a prohibited firearm following a two-day jury trial in front of President Judge Oliver Lobaugh.
Craig was charged in June 2016 after a search warrant was executed at his home in the 100 block of Walnut Street.
Craig had been convicted of aggravated assault in Erie County after a 2004 trial and therefore was not permitted to possess firearms.
In April, Craig was sentenced to serve four and a half to 10 years in state prison on the weapons charges.
Craig is being housed at SCI Camp Hill in Cumberland County.
