On probation
•Charges of aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit robbery, ethnic intimidation and disorderly conduct against Ken Gault and David Depretis were dropped in exchange for a no contest plea to conspiracy to recklessly endanger a person. They were sentenced to six months of probation, ordered to make restitution for Lockett’s medical expenses and to serve 100 hours of community service—Manning required the service to be done in a Black community, or serving Blacks
On probation
•Matthew and Christopher LaPlace pleaded no contest after charges of ethnic intimidation were reduced to conspiracy to recklessly endanger a person, aggravated assault was reduced to simple assault, and robbery charges were reduced to theft. They too were sentenced to make restitution, 100 hours of community service in a Black neighborhood, and probation—one year for Matthew, six months for Christopher.
Only Ryan Kyle—the one who beat Lockett so badly he required reconstructive surgery on his broken cheekbone and eye socket, and is still undergoing vision therapy—will do any jail time. But even his charges were reduced.
Instead of attempted murder, Kyle was allowed to plead to aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation and conspiracy to commit robbery. His sentencing is scheduled for May 16. He will likely serve between three and six years in prison.
District Attorney Stephen Zappala said the prosecutors in the case were hampered by the lack of audio, and the fact that everyone—including Lockett—was intoxicated. Lockett’s recollection was further limited by the beating. He repeatedly testified that the men shouted racial slurs at him, but was unable to say who shouted what.
“You can see from the video that one person assaults him, actually puts him on the tracks. The other guy is standing there and won’t let him come up. The other three just kind of stand around,” said Zappala. “The guy that hurt him will go to the penitentiary, and that’s a significant step.”
Zappala is in the midst of a run for state attorney general, and this deal could prove troublesome with Black Lives Matter advocates, especially when one of the defendants who received leniency, Depretis, is the son of the Baldwin borough mayor.
Zappala is also dealing with two other incidents that could color reaction to his candidacy: refiling charges against Pittsburgh police officer Stephen Matakovich for his brutal arrest of a drunken teenager last summer, and ruling on whether the shooting of Bruce Kelley Jr. by Port Authority police officers last month was justifiable.
Attorney Todd Hollis said more needs to be done in Lockett’s case. He called the plea deal that let four men walk away with a slap on the wrist “an insult to every decent person who lives in this city.”
“I won’t comment on the District Attorney’s actions, other than to say I believe more should have been done. There has to be consequences for anyone who acts with such reprehensible and callous behavior,” he said. “Though he has not hired me, I have contacted Mr. Lockett and expressed my desire to assist him further if he chooses.”
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