|
Read News
|
Pocono News Section
Teen Charged With Federal Hate Crime to be Released
Teen Charged With Federal Hate Crime to be Released - Monday, January 4, 2010 at 11:30AM EST
Reported by: Eric Deabill
Monday, Jan 4, 2010 @ 11:30am EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- A teen charged in a federal hate crime will be released from jail. Brandon Piekarsky (right) was charged in the beating death of an illegal immigrant in Schuylkill County.
At a federal hearing in Scranton this morning a judge ruled that Piekarsky be released. He had been ordered to stay in prison during a hearing on December 22. U. S. Magistrate Judge Malachy Mannion ruled that both Piekarsky and Derrick Donchak “posed a danger to the community.”
Piekarsky will first have to meet with a probation officer who will inspect the home of Piekarsky's uncle and grandmother where Brandon will live. Once that happens in the next day or so he'll be released and subject to home confinement and electronic monitoring. The judge told Piekarsky he's forbidden from speaking with anyone else involved in the case. He's also been ordered to not use alcohol and must seek employment.
Piekarsky and Donchak had been in jail since the summer when they were convicted of simple assault charges in the death of Luis Ramirez in 2008. The teens were acquitted of third degree murder and aggravated assault charges.
In mid-December federal authorities filed hate crime charges against Piekarsky and Donchak (left). Authorities also say that Donchak and three members of the Shenandoah Police Department conspired to cover up the crime. | | |
|
|
|