Pocono News Section

Charges Against Alleged Baseball Bat Attacker Forwarded To Court

Charges Against Alleged Baseball Bat Attacker Forwarded To Court - Thursday, November 1, 2007 at 7:01PM EST

Reported by: Jill Konopka
Thursday, Nov 1, 2007 @07:01pm EST
(WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY)

A District Judge in Central Court refuses to drop any charges against the Hazleton man who allegedly beat his wife and daughter with a baseball bat.

That mean Kelvin DeJesus will face a number of charges in county court including the most serious, aggravated assault. Patrolman Shawn Conti is a key witness in the case. He spoke exclusively with WBRE-TV Thursday afternoon, "Reflecting on what I observed that morning kind of brings back some memories."

Hazleton Patrolman Shawn Conti describes a combative, irate, intoxicated Kelvin DeJesus, the morning he arrived at his Hazleton home September 14th.

In a jealous rage, police allege DeJesus attacked his estranged wife Sarah, her boyfriend Oscar Paredes and his 6-year-old daughter with a baseball bat as she dropped the kids off at his place on her way to work. Police say it started inside and spilled into the street.

Officer Conti added, "Anytime you see a child, a victim of a crime especially in that incident it moves you. The bloody handprints from the child were very disturbing." Emotions remain high 48 days later. Sarah DeJesus says she still suffers from headaches and dizzy spells. In court she remembered pleading with Kelvin to stop as blood ran down her face. Prosecutors say they've got a strong case.

Assistant District Attorney David Pedri said, "It was a very gruesome scene, large amount of blood, handprints went a long way, proper charges and cased together." After the incident, DeJesus claimed he blacked out and didn't remember much. “I don't think I did it," DeJesus said.

Attorney Joe Yeager says his client is a good father who felt he was being replaced as a Dad. On Thursday, he (Kelvin DeJesus) was forced to wear a bullet proof vest following threats from his estranged wife's Father.

Attorney Joseph Yeager added, "He's very distressed, distraught, never had any history of assaulting the daughter and feels remorseful for the incident." Hazleton police believe the situation could have been a lot worse if Sarah DeJesus's boyfriend did not step in to help out. DeJesus is being held on a quarter million dollars bail.