Fayette commissioner’s wife sentenced to prison
Deanna Vicites, 48, is escorted back to jail after her plea hearing before Fayette County Judge Gerald R. Solomon Friday morning. Vicites pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and related charges for shooting her husband, Vincent A. Vicites in the neck nearly one year ago.
Fayette County Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites is pictured following the plea hearing for his wife Deana Vicites, 48, where she pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and related charges for shooting him in the neck nearly one year ago, Vicites has since filed for divorce.
Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower (right) and Pennslyvania State Police trooper John Krause discuss the plea hearing of Deanna Vicites Friday morning where she entered a guilty plea to aggravated assault and related charges nearly one year after shooting her husband, Fayette County Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites in the neck. Vincent Vicites has since filed for divorce.
Alyssa Choiniere|缅北禁地
鈥淛ustice was served,鈥� said Fayette County Commissioner Vincent Vicites following the sentencing of his estranged wife, Deanna Vicites Friday morning.聽 缅北禁地 digital reporter Alyssa Choiniere attended the hearing and updates us on the details in this HS News Extra report.
鈥淛ustice was served,鈥� said Fayette County Commission Chairman Vincent Vicites following the sentencing of his estranged wife, Deanna Vicites.
On Friday, Deanna Vicites, 48, was sentenced by Senior Judge Gerald R. Solomon to serve three to seven years in a state prison for shooting her husband in the neck during the early morning hours of July 17, at their South Union Township home.
Flanked by family and friends, Vincent Vicites listened as District Attorney Rich Bower recalled the events of the evening and early morning hours, telling Solomon that Deanna Vicities stood several feet from him, pulled the trigger of the .38-cal. revolver and shot him in the neck.
Over the next few minutes, said Bower, Vincent Vicites tried to seek help as Deanna Vicites laid on a tiled patio with the gun at her side.
While he was being attended to by medical personnel, Deanna Vicites fought with police that attempted to take her into custody.
Vincent Vicites underwent seven surgeries for his injuries and was hospitalized for nearly three weeks, Bower added.
Bower additionally told Solomon that based on the evidence and later statements from Deanna Vicites that her husband 鈥渘ever mentally, physically or verbally abused her at anytime,鈥� he believed if the matter went to trial, she would be convicted of the single charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, simple assault and resisting arrest.
鈥淚s that what happened?鈥� Solomon asked Deanna Vicites after listening to the prosecution evidence.
鈥淵es your honor,鈥� she responded.
Solomon also inquired if the statements read by Bower were also accurate, with her offering the same response.
鈥淚n fact, are you guilty of these charges?鈥� Solomon again queried Deanna Vicites.
鈥淵es your honor,鈥� she responded.
Following the hearing, defense attorney Douglas Sepic said although his client was adamant following the shooting that it was a reaction to abuse, a condition of the plea bargain was that she agree that she was not abused by Vincent Vicites.
鈥淚f she had to agree that the moon was made out of green cheese (to have the plea agreement), she would have said that today,鈥� said Sepic.
Sepic said that if the matter would have gone to trial, he would have introduced expert testimony to verify the abuse.
However, under the rules of evidence, any evaluations related to the physical, mental or emotional state of a defendant must be shared with the prosecution.
Bower said that no reports were received from Sepic about the condition of Deanna Vicites.
鈥淧ursuant to the court order by Judge Solomon, (Sepic) was to report back the cost of any evaluation prior to any evaluation of his client,鈥� said Bower. 鈥�(Sepic) never submitted any cost for an evaluation.
鈥淭here was never any psychological analysis completed or a report produced that verified any form of abuse.鈥�
During a press conference following the hearing Bower said the initial attempted homicide charge filed against Deanna Vicites was dropped after conferring with Vincent Vicites.
鈥淗e wanted to put this behind him and for her to get help,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 consider all the factors.
鈥淧ersonally, I think we could have gotten a conviction on all the charges, but Mr. Vicites wanted closure.
鈥淗e didn鈥檛 do anything wrong and she clearly acknowledged that he ever verbally, physically or mentally abused her.鈥�
Despite the severity of his injuries at her hands, Vincent Vicites has retained concern for his estranged wife and wants her to receive the necessary treatment she needs, added Bower.
鈥淗e is a man of integrity,鈥� said Bower. 鈥淎 lot of people wouldn鈥檛 see it that way.
鈥淗e may have filed for divorce, but he loved her at one time. He told us he didn鈥檛 want her to go to jail for a long time, he just wanted her to get help.鈥�
Bower said he was pleased with the court decision, but vowed Deanna Vicites would spend more than three years in the state lockup, as she offered no apology or showed no remorse during the hearing.
鈥淚 will oppose parole (in this case),鈥� he said. 鈥淚 will go to any parole hearing.鈥�
The plea was beneficial to both parties, Bower added.
鈥淣ow he can move on and she can move on,鈥� said Bower. 鈥淗opefully, she鈥檚 willing to get help.鈥�