CLEARFIELD – A Reynoldsville man accused of assaulting two people outside a DuBois home was sentenced to state prison during colloquy court in Clearfield County.
Nelson Damitri Echevarria, 22, 3406 Wayne Rd., Reynoldsville, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and two counts of harassment.
He was sentenced by Judge Paul Cherry to one to three years in state prison. He was fined $3 plus costs. He must submit to DNA testing at a cost of $250 and he was ordered to complete anger management counseling.
Prior to sentencing, Echevarria addressed the court, stating he was “truly very sorry” and describing his time in jail as being an “eye opener for me.”
His attorney, Curtis Irwin, said that Echevarria was remorseful for what happened and pointed out that he moved to the area from New Jersey to get away from this type of trouble.
The charges stem from an incident Oct. 29 in DuBois.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, when police arrived at the West Weber Avenue residence to investigate an assault, they found the victim was being treated in an ambulance. Emergency personnel stated that the victim had a large lump and cut on the left side of his head. At one point, the victim had lost consciousness. He was taken to Penn Highlands and then sent by helicopter to UPMC Altoona for treatment.
There were several pools of blood on the sidewalk and in the leaves next to the walk. A pair of glasses identified as belonging to the victim was lying nearby, broken and blood stained. There were spots of blood up the sidewalk, up the steps and into the residence. A red handled pole for a broom was lying near the blood stains, according to the criminal complaint.
A second victim told police that she and another female were at the residence to let the dogs out. While there she heard Echevarria arguing with the female. After they got him out of the house, they followed him outside. He turned around and struck the second victim’s neck with a broom stick handle and then struck her face with a closed fist. The female who was with her ran inside to get the first victim. When he got there, Echevarria struck him about the head with a closed fist and then hit him with a large rock. The first victim fell to the ground unconscious, she said. She and the female were able to get him back in the residence where they called the owner.
The second victim suffered a cut on her lip and a welt on the side of her neck.
The female with the second victim told a similar story. She said when the girls arrived at the home Echevarria was upstairs with the first victim. She heard Echevarria tell the victim that he owed him $10. The victim then gave him the money. Echevarria walked down the steps and tried to leave, but he was unable to find the door knob on the door. She tried to show him but he called her names and argued with her.
She and Echevarria went out the door with the second victim following. She stated that Echevarria struck the second victim with a broom stick and then struck her in the face with his fist.
She also stated that after the first victim came out of the home, Echevarria struck him in the face/head with his fist. Then he struck him with a large rock, causing him to fall face first to the ground, unconscious.
She told police she was afraid Echevarria was going to hurt her, too. She was also concerned about the first victim.
Police were able to talk to the victim who was in intensive care at UPMC Altoona, by phone. He suffered a depressed skull fracture and had bleeding in his brain. He verified the stories of the other witnesses.
He said Echevarria struck him with a hard object, knocking him out cold. He didn’t remember anything else until he was in the emergency room.
Officers tried to find Echevarria but were unable to locate him. On Oct. 30, he arrived at the police station. During his interview, he stated he was at the residence to get the money that the first victim owed him.
When he tried to leave, he claimed the girls yelled at him and called him names. Once he was outside, he said one of the females struck him about the head with something. He started to walk away when the first victim came up behind him with something in his hands.
Echevarria stated that he turned around and struck the victim with his fist, knocking him to the ground. Echevarria said he left and didn’t think anything about it.
After the officer told him the first victim was not in good shape, Echevarria again claimed he only hit him with his fist.