Man held for trial in robbery of Gallery visitor, 83

A Germantown man was ordered held for trial yesterday in the Sept. 10 robbery and assault of an 83-year-old man in a lavatory at the Gallery at Market East shopping mall in Center City.

Jason Morgan, 23, was held on aggravated-assault, robbery, conspiracy and related charges after a preliminary hearing before Municipal Court Judge Joseph J. O'Neill. O'Neill also increased Morgan's bail from $25,000 to $175,000, though Morgan has been unable to post bail since his arrest.

The key prosecution witness was Joseph R. Peruto, 27, who pleaded guilty last month to robbery and criminal conspiracy in the attack, in which John J. Gabel was hit on the head, knocked out, and robbed of $50.

Peruto, who will be sentenced March 27 to 31/2 to seven years in prison under his plea deal, said he was the lookout while Morgan went inside the lavatory to commit the robbery. Gabel, a World War II veteran, testified about the attack on the first day of Morgan's preliminary hearing Jan. 15 but could not identify his assailant.

- Joseph A. Slobodzian