A 19-year-old Hilo man was scheduled to make his initial appearance in a Hilo courtroom this morning after being arrested and charged with the alleged assault of a 55-year-old man with a sledgehammer in Panaewa on Friday.

On Friday at about 4:00 pm, South Hilo patrol officers found an unconscious 55-year-old man at a residence on Auwae Road at about 4 p.m. Paramedics took the man to the Hilo Medical Center in serious condition with a severe head injury, police said. His condition improved to stable following surgery.

Police arrested 19-year-old Tevita Moala at the scene and he was charged over the weekend with first degree assault. Moala was being held on $25,000 bail at the police cellblock pending his initial appearance in court this morning.