Philadelphia official charged in party beating demoted

A suspended Philadelphia official has returned to work in a lesser role four months after he was arrested and charged with repeatedly punching a man in the face during a dispute at a holiday party.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports former city Streets Commissioner Donald Carlton returned on Thursday as a deputy streets commissioner.

Carlton had been suspended without pay after authorities said he assaulted a 50-year-old man in December. The man suffered broken ribs and a bruised eye.

A city spokeswoman says Carlton made a mistake and is paying for it. She says they don’t feel he should be fired.

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Carlton is scheduled to stand trial on assault and reckless endangering charges later this month. He didn’t return calls for comment.

Carlton’s attorney says they’re negotiating a plea deal.

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