
optionsGov. Rendell fired back yesterday at criticism from a Schuylkill County judge over the governor's request for tough sentences in the high profile beating death of a Mexican immigrant.
Rendell, speaking at a Capitol news conference, said he felt he had to raise his voice over the brutal beating and the acquittal of the suspects on murder charges.
"It was a moral obligation for me to weigh in," said Rendell, when asked about his reaction to the remarks of Schuylkill County President Judge William E. Baldwin.
Baldwin blasted Rendell from the bench Wednesday during sentencing for two teens on charges connected with the fatal beating of 25-year-old Luis Eduardo Ramirez Zavala in Shenandoah.
“I’ve never before heard of a head of state giving a suggested sentence for a specific criminal case. I am not giving consideration to the governor’s recommendation,” Baldwin said of a letter Rendell sent to county District Attorney James P. Goodman on May 28.
Rendell wrote that he believed a maximum sentence was warranted for Brandon Piekarsky and Derrick Donchak given the "sheer brutality" of the attack and because the crime appeared to be "racially motivated."
The youths were acquitted by a jury in May on the most serious charges (Donchak was charged with third degree murder, Piekarsky with aggravated assault). The jury found them guilty on simple assault and alcohol-related charges. Piekarsky was sentenced to six to 23 months and Donchak to seven to 23 months. Both were found not guilty of ethnic intimidation.
Rendell said he also felt he had a moral obligation to make a request to the U.S. Justice Department to open a civil rights investigation into the killing.
"It thought it was horrific," said Rendell. "I thought the jury verdict was inappropriate. It sends the wrong message to citizens."
Click here for Philly.com's politics page.
If you see an objectionable post, please report it to us using the "Report Abuse" button.
Personal attacks, especially on other participants, are not permitted. We reserve the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions.
Edit your account information
Edit your account information
Please note that your registration will not be considered fully complete until you confirm by following the link we have provided in a confirmation email that was just sent to .
Until you follow the link in that confirmation email, you may log in but will not be able to comment, so make sure to check your inbox for a message from register@philly.com.
Angela Couloumbis (left) joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 1998, and has covered government and politics in New Jersey, Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania, including Gov. Rendell’s 2006 race against former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann.
Amy Worden (right) joined the Inquirer in 2000 and has covered governors, gubernatorial races, U.S. Senate races and three presidential campaigns. When not covering politics she can be found filing dispatches from disaster scenes or digging into local stories of national import.
- February
- January
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- News | Sports | Business | What's Happening | Restaurants & Food | Entertainment | Living | Marketplace | Jobs





