Warrant issued for 157 Lounge co-owner for assault allegation

Pedestrians walk past 157 Lounge on South Water Street in downtown Kent on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2018.

Aaron McDade

A criminal assault complaint was filed on Sept. 1 against Matthew Guska, co-owner of 157 Lounge. According to the court records, Guska is accused of pushing Andrew Hakos at the downtown bar. In addition, he is accused of taking and destroying Hakos’ Pennsylvania driver’s license without his consent on. 

A warrant was issued for Guska’s arrest. It is unclear if the current charges violate the terms of his $20,000 personal recognizance bond from a May plea bargain

where Guska plead guilty to first-degree misdemeanor assault. Guska’s attorney, Brian Taubman, could not immediately be reached for comment. Attempts to contact Andrew Hakos, the alleged victim, were unsuccessful.

Guska was indicted on two felony assault charges in Dec. 2018 related to the assault of Mohammed Raja Alanazi inside 157 Lounge in September, according to court documents. Guska plead guilty in May to a first-degree misdemeanor assault charge in that case. 

Court records also show Guska was involved in a civil lawsuit against Sarah Andrews. Guska claimed Andrews falsely accused him of sexual assault online, as well as created other posts that caused him emotional distress. 

Guska’s lawsuit came days after Andrews received a civil protection order against him after claiming he and a friend took a picture of her face to a shooting range and posted a video online of themselves shooting the picture repeatedly.

Guska is scheduled to appear for a sentencing hearing for the Sept. 2018 assault charge on Oct. 7 at 1 p.m.

Contact Aaron McDade at [email protected].