BELLEFONTE, Pa. – A former Penn State football recruit who was arrested over Arts Festival weekend for assaulting police had his preliminary hearing continued on Wednesday. It will be rescheduled at a later date. The judge modified Zayd Issah’s bail so he can go home with his parents today.
Centre County District Judge Carmine Prestia listened to arguments from prosecutors and Issah’s defense attorney, Patrick Klena, before ruling. He said Issah’s bail will remain at $20,000, but if 10 percent, or $2,000 is posted, he can go home to Harrisburg with his parents today after the necessary paperwork is signed.
Issah was arraigned on $20,000 secured bail and wasn’t able to post it over the weekend. He spent five days in jail.
Prestia told Issah if he violated the terms of his bail, the $2,000 will be void and he’ll be back in jail.
Issah, clad in a red Centre County Correctional Facility jumpsuit, said he understood.
Issah, 18, was arraigned before Centre County District Judge Thomas Jordan at 7 a.m. Saturday on charges of felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and marijuana possession, according to court documents. It took four officers to take Issah into custody and two were injured when they tried to contain him. Police say one officer was treated at Mount Nittany Medical Center for an injury to his wrist.
After searching Issah, officers found a “small amount of marijuana” in his possession, police say.
Issah faced prior legal trouble when he was allegedly caught passing counterfeit $20 in March in Harrisburg. Read more about Issah here. In March, Penn State football coach Bill O’Brien said he wanted “what was best” for Issah. It’s unclear at this time whether Issah will still be pursued by the team.
