Sentence imposed in prison assault
Justin O’Brien was sentenced last week to 74 months in prison for the assault of openly gay inmate Kenneth J.
Houck Jr. and three unrelated bank robberies.
U.S. District Judge Jan E. DuBois imposed the sentenced during a May 14 court proceeding.
On Nov. 10, 2011, O’Brien and Kevin V. Hannig assaulted Houck at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia.
Houck’s leg was broken during the assault.
He continues to recover from his injuries at a Federal Medical Center in Devens, Mass.
O’Brien also must serve three years of supervised released after his prison sentence is completed, according to court records.
Hannig also pleaded guilty to Houck’s assault, and his sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. July 18 in Courtroom 14B of the U.S. Court House before U.S. District Judge William H. Yohn Jr.
At the time of his assault, Hauck was awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to one count of transporting child pornography. His projected release date is March 3, 2018, if he doesn’t commit any infractions while in custody.
O’Brien and Hannig remain incarcerated at the detention center.
Judge mulls Laird’s request for a new trial
Richard R. Laird’s request for a new trial in the grisly slashing death of gay artist Anthony Milano remains pending before Bucks County Common Pleas Judge Rea B. Boylan.
Laird and Frank R. Chester were convicted of murdering Milano in December 1987, after escorting him out of a Tullytown tavern.
Both men were convicted of first-degree murder in 1988 and sentenced to death.
Laird was granted a retrial in 2007, and another Bucks County jury convicted him of first-degree murder and sentenced him to death.
In court papers, Laird contends he received ineffective assistance of counsel during the retrial, noting that evidence supporting alleged abuse from his father wasn’t brought to the attention of jurors.
Billy H. Nolas, an attorney for Laird, had no comment for this story.
Stephen B. Harris, chief of appeals for the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, said Laird received a proper retrial in 2007.
“It’s the commonwealth’s position that Mr. Laird had very good legal representation, and that he had a fair trial,” Harris told PGN. “Mr. Laird was properly convicted and re-sentenced to death.”
Laird, 49, remains on death row at a state prison in Greene County.
Chester’s appeal for a new trial remains pending in federal court.
Chester, 44, remains on death row at the state prison in Graterford.
Request for attorney’s incarceration withdrawn
Attorneys for a man who says Officer Michael A. Paige sexually assaulted him while the officer was on duty have withdrawn their request for the incarceration of Paige’s attorney.
Brian F. Humble, an attorney for James Harris, filed a legal pleading in March that requested the incarceration of Paige and his attorney, Brian M. Puricelli.
The pleading contended that both men violated a court order requiring them to inform the court of Paige’s expected return to Pennsylvania after Paige completes military duty in Missouri.
But last month, Humble filed a motion that withdraws the request for Puricelli’s incarceration, noting that Puricelli recently advised the court of Paige’s expected return to the city in May.
Humble and Puricelli had no comment for this story.
In March 2007, Paige allegedly forced Harris to perform oral sex on him in a secluded area of Fairmount Park, while Paige was on duty.
The following year, Paige was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.
But in June 2012, a federal jury awarded Harris $165,000 in damages due to the alleged assault.
Harris is seeking payment of about $3,100 in legal fees from Paige, but a hearing on that request hadn’t been scheduled at press time.
— Tim Cwiek
Anna Crusis honors local individuals
The Anna Crusis Women’s Choir will celebrate local heroes during the oganization’s “Good Happens: Honoring Our Ordinary Heroes” at 7:30 p.m. June 1 and 2 p.m. June 2 at the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.
The women’s choir is asking that the community submit names and stories of individuals who have inspired them and who they consider to be heroes for possible inclusion in the event.
Tickets for the concert are a suggested $20 donation on a $15-$50 sliding scale. To purchase tickets or nominate someone as a hero, visit www.annacrusis.com.
— Angela Thomas