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WILKES-BARRE — State police cited WNEP-TV anchor and reporter James Hamill on Friday, alleging he injured a 37-year-old city woman when he struck her in the head with a door last month at his Honesdale home.
Hamill, 35, faces a summary harassment count and a $254 fine.
He allegedly caused a cut and swelling to the forehead of Sara Elizabeth Katrenicz when he struck her with a door inside his East Street residence around midnight Feb. 12, according to the citation.
Wayne County property records show Hamill and his wife, Honesdale Mayor Melody Robinson, own the home.
Katrenicz and Robinson shared a friendship that dated back to kindergarten, said Hamill’s attorney, Brendan Ellis. He declined to provide specifics on the status of their relationship now, or what sparked last month’s alleged incident.
Katrenicz, of Crescent Avenue, has remained silent on the matter. She did not respond to multiple attempts to contact her when the allegations surfaced and did not immediately return a message Friday.
In a statement, Ellis said he and his client were moving on.
“We’re glad this is finally getting resolved and happy to dispel the notion that any assault occurred that evening,” he said. “We want to thank (state police) for their professionalism in conducting the investigation and are grateful for their hard work.”
Ellis said Hamill will pay the fine associated with the offense after he is served with the citation. A summary offense is considered among the most minor criminal offenses in the state.
The Wayne Independent newspaper reported on Feb. 15 that police were investigating an incident involving Katrenicz at Hamill’s home. Two days later, state police confirmed they had assumed the investigation due to a conflict of interest between Robinson and Honesdale Borough police. Robinson oversees the department as mayor.
Hamill, a Honesdale native, has worked at WNEP since 2006 and has been a fixture as weekend anchor since 2013, according to the station’s website.
WNEP-TV News Director Carl Abraham declined to comment on Hamill’s status at the station Friday, saying it was a personnel matter.
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