In Indiana County Court today, President Judge William Martin is scheduled to sentence 19-year-old Cory Eugene Blystone of Sagamore for his guilty pleas to misdemeanor stalking, false imprisonment, and simple assault in the attack on Cody Overdorff of Homer City last summer on the Hoodlebug Trail.
Blystone was one of four people convicted in the attack. Overdorff, who has Williams Syndrome, a developmental disorder which affects mental and emotional capabilities, was lured to the scene and prevented from leaving as he was assaulted and begged to be left alone.
Of the other three defendants, 19-year-old Jordan Kinney was sentenced to three to 12 months in the Indiana County Jail plus a concurrent two years of probation. He pleaded guilty to the same charges as Blystone. 20-year-old Katelyn Lemley, who is also known as Katie Black, was sentenced to three month to one year less a day in jail plus two years of probation after pleading guilty to counts of conspiracy and one count of disorderly conduct. She videoed the incident and posted it to social media. 20-year-old Dakota Patterson pleaded guilty to the same offenses as Kinney and Blystone and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12th.
The case led State Representative Jim Struzzi to introduce a bill called “Cody’s Law”, which would charge anyone who intentionally causes bodily injury to a person with a physical or intellectual disability with aggravated assault, a second degree felony. Currently, the law only permits a charge of misdemeanor simple assault unless there is “serious bodily injury.” The bill passed the House last month and is currently listed for consideration in the Senate.
Others scheduled to be sentenced today:
- 43-year-old Joseph Ondo of Clymer, who pleaded guilty in February to statutory sexual assault involving a 14-year-old girl. His sentencing will include the results of a Megan’s Law evaluation. Ondo admitted twice having sexual relations with the girl after her mother allowed her to stay at his home last June for counseling on some family matters.
- 32-year-old Elyse Zak of Indiana will be sentenced for a single guilty plea to possession of a controlled substance, avoiding more serious felony charges in a methamphetamine case.
- 64-year-old Adalberto Gracian II of Cherry Tree will be sentenced for indecent assault involving a victim less than 13 years old. His sentencing will include a Megan’s Law evaluation.
- 39-year-odl Jesse Brendan Sul of Tyrone will be sentenced for a guilty plea to terroristic threats, avowing prosecution for four felony charges, including three for endangering the welfare of children and a single count of prohibited possession of a firearm. There were also six other misdemeanor offenses that will not be prosecuted.
- 21-year-old Samantha Lee Silvis of Blairsville will be sentenced for simple assault.
- There are two Plea Court proceedings today: 30-year-old Michael Chardella of Homer City will plead to retail theft. 38-year-old Angela Bronson of Ligonier will plead to theft, receiving stolen property, and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds.
