Sentencing date postponed in beating case
Cameron Reihner could get a new trial for his role in the brutal beating of two brothers in a Houston parking lot two years ago.
Reihner’s attorney, Michael DeRiso, made a motion Friday asking for a new trial prior to Reihner’s sentencing hearing before Washington County Common Pleas Judge John F. DiSalle. DeRiso said charges that were dismissed at Reihner’s preliminary hearing were permitted to be tried during his trial. DeRiso said the charges pertained to the assault against Stephen Irizarry.
Reihner, 22, of Washington, was convicted in January on two counts each of aggravated assault, simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment, and one count each of reckless endangerment and possessing an instrument of crime in the June 23, 2012, assault.
Stephen Irizarry and his brother, Jonathan, were attacked with an aluminum baseball bat in Houston by Reihner and his co-defendant, Troy L. Wilson Jr., after they got into an argument at Denny’s restaurant in Canton Township earlier that night.
Reihner and Wilson followed the brothers from the restaurant to a business parking lot in the 100 block of West Pike Street, where the attack occurred.
Wilson, 22, of Washington, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in March. He was sentenced to a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 4 years in prison. He also was ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution to the brothers, attend drug and alcohol counseling and undergo anger-management counseling. Wilson was ordered not to have contact with the victims and their family.
DeRiso said DiSalle has three options to remedy what he called “an accident.” DeRiso said DiSalle can grant a new trial, dismiss the charges and convictions for one of the aggravated assault charges, both simple assault charges and one of the harassment charges, or sentence Reihner on all charges and let the matter be decided in appellate court.
“He’ll want to do what’s right,” DeRiso said of DiSalle after Friday’s court appearance.
DiSalle asked DeRiso and Assistant District Attorney John Friedmann to present their arguments in briefs. A new sentencing date will be set.
Reihner remains in Washington County jail.