BUCKHANNON – A Buckhannon man was arrested for attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a man three times during a fight at Jawbone Park on Thursday.

Benjamin Casto, 31, of Buckhannon, was arrested for attempted murder and malicious assault, both felonies.

According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer patrolman Wade Loudin with the Buckhanon Police Department, on Sept. 4, 2024, Daniel Percell came to the Buckhannon Police Department with three stab wounds in his back.

“Percell stated that he had been stabbed by a heavy-set guy at Jawbone Park,” Loudin wrote in the complaint. He was transported by Upshur County EMS for treatment.

Sgt. Courtney and Loudin reviewed the security footage from Jawbone Park, and Loudin identified the male as Casto. The officers located Casto at his residence on East Main Street.

Casto allegedly told the officer that Casto’s friend and Percell were in a fight, and Casto attempted to break it up.

“Casto stated that after he separated the fight, Percell had tried to go after his friend, and that’s when he stabbed him,” Loudin wrote in the complaint.

According to the file, secondary security footage showed Casto’s friend, Isaac McCartney, throwing Percell to the ground. Casto then kicks Percell.

“McCartney had gotten up and removed himself from the altercation when Casto pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed Percell three times in the back,” the file states.

Casto was placed into custody and transported to the Buckhannon Police Department for processing and then to Tygart Valley Regional Jail. Bail was set at $1,000,000 cash only by Upshur County Magistrate Mark Davis.

The potential penalty for attempted murder is confinement in the penitentiary for 3-15 years. The potential penalty for malicious assault is confinement in a state correctional facility for 2-10 years.

McCartney was later arrested on a separate charge of child neglect.