Kearney man to trial court for assault with hammer

KEARNEY, Neb. (KSNB) - A Kearney man, accused of hitting a man in the head with a hammer, is going to trial court.
Tristen Titus, 26, is charged with felony first degree assault and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. After a probable cause hearing Tuesday, a judge transferred the case to Buffalo County District Court for possible trial. A hearing in district court is pending.
The court had ordered an evaluation of Titus. After that evaluation, a judge ruled him competent to stand trial.
Court records indicate the assault happened Aug. 19 at a residence in southeast Kearney. Police say Titus struck a 29-year-old man on the right side of the forehead with a hammer causing bleeding and broken bones in the skull. Police found a bloody hammer next to the victim at the scene. Police arrested Titus about six blocks away from the scene. It’s not clear what the motive for the assault was.
Titus is in the Buffalo County Detention Center on $25,000 bond.
The felony charges carry a max penalty of 50 years in prison each.