Testimony continues in assault case
Two men testified Wednesday in Fayette County Court that they were talking to Charles Yusko outside of the fire hall in Washington Township when Michael Latkanich threatened to kill Yusko and then punched him in the face. James Fellin, a forensic accountant, and Arnold Dull, a retired state police trooper, said they were discussing property within the township when Latkanich approached on Oct. 13, 2005.
“If you ever say anything about my mother again, I’ll (expletive) kill you,” Dull testified Latkanich said.
Then, both men testified, Latkanich punched Yusko in the face.
Yusko, who testified he had little recollection of what happened, fell to the ground unconscious, the men testified.
The men differed, however, on the severity of what happened next.
Fellin testified that Latkanich, son of township supervisor Joanne Latkanich, jumped on top of Yusko and continued to pummel him, then ran at Yusko’s unconscious body “like a football kicker” and kicked him multiple times in the head and body.
Dull, however, told state Deputy Attorney General William Caye that after the first punch, Latkanich stood and kicked Yusko twice more.
Dull and Yusko were meeting with Fellin about a forensic audit of the township’s volunteer fire department, which Dull testified was in “dire financial straits” because money was mismanaged.
Both men indicated they tried to get Latkanich off Yusko, but Latkanich pushed them away.
The alleged assault broke Yusko’s nose, and fractured one rib, according to medical testimony, but Dr. James Nafziger indicated that he did not believe it amounted to injuries that would lead to long-term problems.
Yusko, elected as a Washington Township supervisor one month after the assault, is employed by the township’s municipal authority, and was ordered back to work after nine months off the job following the assault.
Under questioning from defense attorney Samuel Davis, Nafziger testified it was “unusual” for someone to be off work for that length of time given Yusko’s injuries. Nafziger indicated that pain from the injuries Yusko suffered would linger for about four to six weeks.
Davis told jurors in his opening that he would not ask them to excuse Latkanich’s conduct, but told the panel he believed that Yusko wanted the fight to happen.
Yusko testified he has lingering pain from the assault, and his nose is crooked from the break.
“I haven’t slept in a bed since it happened,” testified Yusko, who is 54 years old and stands 5 feet 6 inches tall.
Latkanich looks to be easily over 6-feet tall.
Under questioning from Davis, Yusko indicated that he was off for 18 months with an unrelated back problem and had only returned to work about five months before the incident with Latkanich.
Davis asked Yusko if he said in front of two co-workers that he wanted to entice Latkanich to hit him.
“Never, sir,” said Yusko.
He also denied ever having insulted Latkanich or his family.
The supervisor did, however, acknowledge calling Latkanich’s insurance company before the alleged assault. Yusko said he did so because Latkanich was on disability, but was “playing ball.”
Davis also questioned Yusko about his potentially filing a lawsuit against Latkanich. With a guilty verdict in the criminal case, Davis asked Yusko if he felt the civil case would go better for him.
“I haven’t done anything (civilly) yet, sir,” Yusko testified.
He acknowledged, however, using at least three civil lawyers to look at a potential case.
Testimony will continue this morning before Judge Steve P. Leskinen.