BREAKING NEWS

PA. TEENS PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO HATE CRIME CHARGE

WILKES-BARRE, PA. (AP) - A JUDGE SAYS A PENNSYLVANIA TEEN CHARGED WITH A HATE CRIME IN THE DEATH OF A MEXICAN IMMIGRANT IS A DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY. JUDGE MALACHY MANNION DENIED BAIL FOR 19-YEAR-OLD DERRICK
DONCHAK, CITING THREE DISCIPLINARY INFRACTIONS HE HAS INCURRED WHILE BEHIND BARS. DONCHAK AND 18-YEAR-OLD BRANDON PIEKARSKY BOTH PLEADED NOT GUILTY AT AN ARRAIGNMENT TUESDAY IN WILKES-BARRE ON CHARGES STEMMING FROM THE JULY 2008 BEATING DEATH OF 25-YEAR-OLD LUIS RAMIREZ IN SHENANDOAH. A JURY HAD PREVIOUSLY ACQUITTED THE TEENS OF ALL SERIOUS STATE CHARGES IN THE CASE, ANGERING HISPANIC LEADERS AND CIVIL-RIGHTS
GROUPS. THE DECISION PROMPTED PENNSYLVANIA GOV. ED RENDELL TO ASK
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO PURSUE CIVIL-RIGHTS CHARGES AGAINST THE
TEENS.

PA. TEENS PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO HATE CRIME CHARGE

WILKES-BARRE, PA. (AP) - TWO EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TEENAGERS HAVE PLEADED NOT GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT TO A HATE CRIME IN THE DEATH OF
AN ILLEGAL MEXICAN IMMIGRANT. EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD BRANDON PIEKARSKY AND 19-YEAR-OLD DERRICK DONCHAK WERE ARRAIGNED TUESDAY IN WILKES-BARRE ON CHARGES STEMMING FROM THE JULY 2008 BEATING DEATH OF 25-YEAR-OLD LUIS RAMIREZ IN SHENANDOAH. A JURY HAD PREVIOUSLY ACQUITTED PIEKARSKY AND DONCHAK OF ALL SERIOUS STATE CHARGES IN THE CASE, ANGERING HISPANIC LEADERS AND CIVIL-RIGHTS GROUPS. THE DECISION PROMPTED PENNSYLVANIA GOV. ED RENDELL TO ASK THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO PURSUE CIVIL-RIGHTS CHARGES AGAINST THE TEENS. THREE SHENANDOAH POLICE OFFICERS WERE CHARGED SEPARATELY LAST WEEK WITH OBSTRUCTING THE INVESTIGATION INTO RAMIREZ'S DEATH.