NEW CUMBERLAND — A Burgettstown man recently pardoned by President Donald Trump for his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots returned to a Hancock County courtroom Friday for a status hearing on charges connected with an alleged stabbing at a Chester restaurant in April 2023.

The case against Joshua Atwood, though, was granted a continuation until April 17 by Circuit Judge Joseph Barki at the request of his defense attorney.

During Friday’s hearing, defense attorney Kevin Pearl acknowledged he had just received discovery for the case and went on to request the continuance, citing difficulty locating Atwood’s alleged victim.

Assistant prosecutor Herman Lantz did not oppose the motion.

Atwood, 32, was arrested in May 2023 in Frankfort Springs, Pa., after being sought for a month in connection with the alleged stabbing of Jose Mocias-Onate, who was the owner of the Crazy Donkey Mexican Cuisine restaurant in Chester. According to reports at the time, Atwood had worked as a handyman for Mocias-Onate, but during an argument, Atwood allegedly took money from the cash drawer at the restaurant and, while attempting to flee, allegedly stabbed Mocias-Onate on his way out of the restaurant.

He was indicted by a grand jury in Hancock County in April 2024 on charges of malicious assault and first-degree robbery.

If the continuance had not been granted, the trial would have begun on April 7.

Adjudication of Hancock County’s case had been interrupted after Atwood was identified by a scar as one of those who attacked law enforcement in the Jan. 6, 2021, riots on the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

He pleaded guilty in September on federal charges of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon, and was sentenced to 48 months in prison.

After Trump assumed the presidency on Jan. 20, he pardoned the majority of those associated with the riot, including Atwood.

Atwood remains free on the $100,000 surety bond that he had posted on Jan. 28 in this case.

If convicted of the current felony charges, he will serve a minimum of 12 years in prison and a maximum of life, according to Hancock County Prosecutor Steve Dragisich.

(Ujhelyi can be contacted at sujhelyi@mojonews.com)