Man charged with assault at Sands hotel agrees to plea deal

Attempted homicide charges will be dropped against Clinton County man in Sands casino resort beating case.

By JD Malone, Of The Morning Call

April 18, 2012
A 27-year-old Clinton County man accused of beating his girlfriend in a room at the Sands hotel in Bethlehem earlier this year accepted a plea agreement.

Nicholas A. Mullins of Lock Haven agreed to plead guilty to aggravated assault Wednesday in exchange for prosecutors dropping charges of attempted homicide and terroristic threats. Bethlehem police charged Mullins after his girlfriend, Caitlin Shields, suffered brain swelling and other injuries during a fight in January in their hotel room at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

Mullins gave up his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Patricia Romig-Passaro and accepted the plea deal brokered by his attorney, James Connell. The terms of the deal include a recommended sentence of two to four years, Connell said.

Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Patricia Fuentes Mulqueen said Shields supported the plea deal and the prison term.

According to court papers, Mullins was first charged Jan. 23 with simple assault and harassment, but police later upgraded the charges after doctors at St. Luke's Hospital-Fountain Hill said Shields had life-threatening injuries, including brain swelling, from severe trauma on the right side of her head.

Police said Shields was bleeding from one of her ears when they arrived at the hotel room.

Mullins told police Shields attacked him because he lost $800 at the casino, according to court records, and he had scratches on his face and chest.

Before police arrived, Sands hotel security had heard a woman scream for help and went to investigate. Mullins told security officers that Shields was angry about his gambling losses and slammed the door in their faces.

About the same time, a hotel guest heard a man threatening to kill a woman and called Bethlehem police. They spoke to Mullins, who said his girlfriend "kicked the [expletive] out of him because he lost money at the casino."

Police said Shields was disoriented and unable to answer questions.

Mullins, dressed in a red prison jumpsuit, sat quietly in court Wednesday and answered "Yes" to a few questions. He remains in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail. Connell said Mullins will plead guilty at his formal arraignment June 7.