Mother of Gavin McKenna enters diversion program in State College furnishing case
The mother of former Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna was accepted Wednesday into a pretrial diversionary program that could lead to the dismissal of misdemeanor charges accusing her of furnishing alcohol to minors.
Krystal D. McKenna, 44, of Canada, was placed into the accelerated rehabilitative disposition program for six months and was ordered to complete one day of community service. She appeared via Zoom.
Centre County President Judge Jonathan Grine approved her admission into the program, which is meant for nonviolent defendants with little or no prior criminal record. Successful participants complete court-ordered conditions in exchange for having their charges dismissed and their record expunged.
Those who do not successfully complete the program would then face prosecution. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis by Centre County prosecutors. Defense attorney Jason Dunkle declined comment.
The charges stem from allegations that McKenna supplied alcohol to her son and two others who were under the legal drinking age less than two hours before her son was accused of breaking a 21-year-old man’s jaw outside Doggie’s Pub in downtown State College.
Surveillance footage showed she provided alcoholic drinks to the minors inside the pub, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by a liquor control enforcement officer. At least two of the three were wearing wristbands to indicate they were underage, the officer wrote.
Doggie’s — which previously allowed those under 21 into the pub before 7 p.m. if accompanied by a parent — seemingly changed its policy in the months since. According to its website, underage guests are not permitted “at this time.”
Gavin McKenna, selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft, was attending a team event at the pub before he was accused of breaking the man’s jaw. The alleged crime took place at the end of January, hours after he scored a goal in an overtime loss to Michigan State in front of nearly 75,000 fans in Beaver Stadium.
Shortly after leaving the pub, State College police said there was an “exchange of words” between the man, his friends and the group McKenna was with. The specifics were not detailed in the affidavit.
Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna did not elaborate when asked during a February press conference, adding only that an argument “never is justification for physical violence against another human being, let alone physical violence that results in a fractured jaw and surgery.”
A borough police officer said video footage showed McKenna, 18, punch the man in the face twice, leaving blood on the pavement. Cantorna said the man had two fractures on one side of his jaw and had surgery to repair the fractures.
McKenna is facing a misdemeanor count of simple assault and summary counts of harassment and disorderly conduct. A felony aggravated assault charge was dropped after county prosecutors said the evidence did not support it.
His next court date is scheduled for Monday.
