Suspect was put on bail at time of attack

Steven Woodson, 16, had other charges pending prior to his alleged attack. Steven Woodson, the 16-year-old boy accused of attacking a Penn sophomore with a knife inside Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, was out on bail for prior robbery and burglary charges when the assault occurred, according to court records. Woodson, of the 4300 block of West Pennsgrove Street, failed to appear at his arraignment on robbery and burglary charges on November 9, the day after the assault. He was arrested three days later by Philadelphia and University Police for the attack. The suspect also has pending juvenile charges against him, including a count of theft. His trial on that charge could begin as early as January. Woodson -- whose bail was set at $100,000 earlier this week -- is currently in city custody at the Youth Study Center, at 23rd Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, according to Assistant District Attorney Jan McDermott, who is handling part of the case. The decision to charge Woodson as an adult was automatic, McDermott said. Under state law, juveniles between the ages of 15 and 18 who commit any one of several offenses -- including attempted murder and aggravated assault -- must be initially charged as an adult. If a Common Pleas judge decides at Monday's preliminary hearing that there is enough evidence for a trial, Woodson will likely file a motion asking that despite the law, he will still be tried as a juvenile, McDermott said. At that hearing, it is the defense's responsibility to prove "by a preponderance of evidence" that society would best be served by trying him as a juvenile instead of as an adult, McDermott said. The decision will probably be difficult, she added. "He is pretty young, so that weighs in his favor," she said. "But the charges don't [help him]." Woodson is being defended by the city public defender's office. Officials there refused to name his lawyer. Several attempts to reach his family have been unsuccessful. The charges stem from the early-morning assault of a female sophomore inside the main Wharton School building on November 8. The student -- who was allegedly attacked by a man with a knife inside a basement bathroom escaped with minor physical injuries. Police believe the assailant entered the building through a side door, which was probably propped open by a student. Penn Police officials have said they are "supremely confident" of Woodson's guilt, citing physical evidence found at the scene as well as unspecified "corroborating evidence."