Judge hears arguments in Crestwood case against Career Center

web1_TTL121115Shinal1.jpg

Bus driver was in the right place at the right time

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; One man accused of taking part in the beating of another man due to a misunderstanding over a &#8220;Muslim greeting&#8221; is headed to higher court.</p><p>Khalil Owens, 22, appeared before Magisterial District Judge Martin Kane Thursday for a preliminary hearing. Owens did not have an attorney present, but waived a felony charge of assault and misdemeanor charges of simple assault and reckless endangerment on to county court.</p><p>City police allege Owens was one of three men who assaulted Gerry Vorn outside Las Delicias Deli at Beaumont and North Washington streets Aug. 13.</p><p>Vorn claimed he was &#8220;beaten due to a misunderstanding of a Muslim greeting.&#8221;</p><p>Police said Vorn entered the deli to place a food order when Jahleel Owens, 23, his brother Khalil and Antonio Cruz, 24, approached him from behind and dragged him outside, according to the criminal complaint.</p><p>Vorn&#8217;s head and body were stomped on and kicked by the Owens brothers and Cruz, the complaint says. Police said Vorn sustained broken ribs, a broken collar bone, head lacerations and bruises.</p><p>Vorn remained hospitalized for more than seven days due to the severity of his injuries, police said.</p><p>Jahleel Owens was initially charged with one felony county of aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of simple assault and reckless endangerment. Court documents indicate the charges were withdrawn.</p><p>At the time of the crime, Jahleel Owens had recently been paroled from state prison on a two-to-four-year state prison sentence imposed by Luzerne County Judge Tina Polachek Gartley on July 31, 2014. Gartley sentenced Owens on several drug trafficking offenses in connection to arrests by Nanticoke police in December 2013 and Kingston police in January 2014, court records say.</p><p>A docket sheet for Cruz pertaining to the incident is listed as inactive.</p><p>Khalil Owens is scheduled for a formal arraignment at 10 a.m. Feb. 12 at the Luzerne County Courthouse. He remains free on bail.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL121115owenshearing.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Khalil Owens is charge with assault. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL121115owenshearing.jpg</photo0><caption0>Khalil Owens is charge with assault. </caption0><photoCredit0>Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_Jaheel-Owens.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jahleel Khiry Owens </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_Jaheel-Owens.jpg</photo1><caption1>Jahleel Khiry Owens </caption1><photoCredit1>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

One of three men accused in beating over ‘Muslim greeting’ headed to county court