Three juveniles plead guilty to assaulting homeless man
The victim, Robert Barnes, 51, is still in a coma; if he dies, the juveniles could be charged with murder.
THREE JUVENILES charged in the horrific beating of a homeless man at an Olney gas station in April pleaded guilty in Family Court on Wednesday to two first-degree felonies: aggravated assault and conspiracy.
Prosecutors will be dropping remaining charges, including attempted murder.
Assistant District Attorney Deborah Nixon told Common Pleas Judge Robert Rebstock that the victim, Robert Barnes, 51, remains in a coma.
She said if Barnes were to die, the District Attorney's Office may then charge the juveniles with homicide.
Rebstock asked the three juveniles - a girl, 12, and two boys, 13 and 14 - if they understood that they could be charged with murder if Barnes were to die.
"Yes," the three said softly as they sat at the defense table.
The attack happened about 6:40 p.m. April 7, at the Sunoco gas station on 5th Street near Somerville Avenue.
A video of the attack showed a bunch of people jumping out of a minivan, then viciously attacking Barnes, a homeless man who hung out at the gas station.
Three women were charged in the attack: Aleathea Gillard, 34; Kaisha Duggins, 24; and Shareena Joachim, 23. Gillard's 12-year-old daughter, her 13-year-son and a 14-year-old boy who was friends with the son were charged as juveniles in the case.
Nixon told the judge that Gillard's 13-year-old son was the first to get out of the minivan and that he threw a punch at Barnes, but was then sprayed in the face with Mace. (Joachim had accidentally sprayed the boy with Mace, according to a statement she had given police.)
Nixon said the 14-year-old boy kicked Barnes multiple times in the head and Gillard's 12-year-old daughter kicked Barnes multiple times in the head and face.
Sentencing was deferred until July 7. The juveniles are in custody.
Gillard and the others had allegedly gone to the gas station to beat on Barnes because Gillard's 10-year-old son had come home that day saying Barnes hit him. Gillard later learned the boy lied, according to evidence in the case.
In the attack, Gillard allegedly pummeled Barnes in the head with a piece of wood from a broken rocking chair and kicked him.
Duggins allegedly hit Barnes in the head, legs and feet with a hammer. Joachim allegedly had the Mace. The three women, who are all in custody, face trial in Common Pleas Court on attempted murder and related offenses.
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