Pocono News Section

Man Accused In Baseball Bat Beating Of Family Accepts Plea Deal

Man Accused In Baseball Bat Beating Of Family Accepts Plea Deal - Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 4:41PM EST

Reported by: Jill Konopka
Tuesday, Mar 4, 2008 @04:41pm EST
(WILKES-BARRE, Luzerne County ) A Hazleton man accused of attacking his wife and daughter with a wooden baseball bat accepts a plea deal in Luzerne County Tuesday morning.

Kelvin DeJesus pleaded guilty to three of the most serious charges against him. Reporter Jill Konopka explains.

Months after making this statement, “I don't think I did it," said Kelvin DeJesus, DeJesus of Hazleton is taking responsibility for the baseball bat beating of his estranged wife and child.

Ed Olexa is an Assistant District Attorney in Luzerne County, "The victims are still suffering the effects of this incident. Margaret still suffers on a daily basis and of course the emotional pain of being involved in this incident still remains."

In court Tuesday, DeJesus pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated assault charges against him. Prosecutors say DeJesus attacked his wife Sarah, their young daughter Margaret and Sarah's new boyfriend with a wooden baseball bat.

Authorities say it all happened here in Hazleton, as Sarah DeJesus dropped their two children off before work last September. Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Dave Pedri, "We are pleased Mr. DeJesus stood up here and took responsibility for his actions. We're also pleased we don't have to put little 6-year-old Margaret DeJesus on the stand to say her father hit her with a baseball bat."

Police and prosecutors say DeJesus was drunk and jealous of his wife's significant other. Investigators say there was plenty of evidence, including his daughter's bloody handprint. Pedri added, "This is a very severe and brutal attack and we're going to be asking for a very severe sentence because of it." DeJesus will be sentenced in June on three counts of assault, one for each of his victims.

In the past, Defense Attorney Joe Yeager has stated DeJesus loves his family very much. DeJeus faces up to a maximum 50 years in prison. Prosecutors tell us they will ask for consecutive sentencing.