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State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski: Urge state Republican leaders to negotiate budget based on the people’s priorities

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Alleged mastermind behind Dunkin Donuts robbery surrenders to authorities

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A city man has admitted to the February 2014 stabbing of another man outside GAR High School.</p><p>Kevin Espinoza, 18, of Sherman Street, pleaded guilty Monday in Luzerne County Court to one felony count of aggravated assault, court papers say.</p><p>Judge David W. Lupas scheduled Espinoza&#8217;s sentencing for Sept. 2.</p><p>Court papers indicate Espinoza is to write a letter of apology to the victim, Luis Rosa, and must obtain and maintain employment.</p><p>Restitution in the case is yet to be determined.</p><p>Police say Espinoza stabbed Rosa several times during a fight outside GAR High School after a basketball game. Prosecutors suspect jealousy over a shared romantic interest motivated the scuffle.</p><p>Rosa sustained multiple stab wounds to the abdomen which required surgical attention. He testified at a decertification hearing in April that he still experiences physical difficulties as a result of the stabbing.</p><p>Espinoza, who was 17 when the incident occurred, attempted to have his case decertified and transferred to the juvenile court system, where he could receive treatment in lieu of a term of incarceration.</p><p>His defense called on testimony from Moosic-based psychiatrist Dr. Matthew Berger, who described Espinoza as &#8220;psychologically naive&#8221; and &#8220;somewhat self-centered,&#8221; but said the teenager did not have a history of violence and was amenable to treatment.</p><p>Lupas, however, sided ultimately with prosecutors and their own expert witness, Philadelphia-based psychiatrist Dr. John O&#8217;Brien, and issued an order in May denying the transfer.</p><p>O&#8217;Brien&#8217;s testimony pointed to Espinoza&#8217;s high school discipline record, which was riddled with truancy violations, defiance and disrespect. He argued the assault on Rosa may represent Espinoza &#8220;crossing a barrier&#8221; into physical aggression.</p><p>In an opinion accompanying his order, Lupas cited Espinoza&#8217;s discplinary record and &#8220;his apparent lack of remorse.&#8221;</p><p>He wrote that the teenager poses a significant threat to public safety, and with only about two years he turns 21 and the juvenile court&#8217;s jurisdiction expires, the juvenile system would not have enough time to rehabilitate him.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Kevin Espinoza 17, is seen after his arrest in 2014 following the stabbing of another student outside GAR High School in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_Kevin-Espinoza-2-24-141.jpg</photo0><caption0>Kevin Espinoza 17, is seen after his arrest in 2014 following the stabbing of another student outside GAR High School in Wilkes-Barre. </caption0><photoCredit0>Clark Van Orden | Times Leader file </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By James O&#8217;Malley</p><p>jomalley@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach James O&#8217;Malley at 570-991-6390 or on Twitter @TL_omalley.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre teen pleads guilty in February 2014 stabbing of another GAR student