Lesesne, Soto hearing delayed

Published 11/19/98

Due to a scheduling conflict, the hearing for two Point Park College students charged with rape is postponed until December.

The preliminary hearing for Point Park students Tony Lesesne, 28, a senior from Carrick, and Ricardo Soto, 21, a sophomore from Puerto Rico, has been rescheduled to Monday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m., according to a Pittsburgh City Court spokesman. The hearing will be at the Pittsburgh Municipal Building.

Robert DelGreco Jr., an attorney who is representing Lesesne, said that due to a scheduling conflict, he had to delay the hearing to a later date. DelGreco said attorney Patrick Thomassey, whose office is located in Monroeville, is representing Soto.

Thomassey was unavailable for comment.

DelGreco said that he was asked by Lesesne to represent him in court.

Lesesne and Soto are charged with rape, indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and conspiracy in burglary, DelGreco said.

The hearing is open to the public, and the purpose of the hearing is to determine if there is enough evidence to bring Lesesne and Soto to trial.

"Evidence will be induced from the victim," DelGreco said.

Because it is a criminal case, DelGreco said that the alleged victim will be represented by either a criminal assistant deputy or district attorney and added that the victim's counsel won't be known until the hearing.

DelGreco said the penalties for each charge could range from one to 20 years in prison. Rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and conspiracy in burglary are all first-degree felonies that carry a maximum prison sentence of 10-20 years in jail.

Indecent assault is a second degree misdemeanor that has a maximum prison sentence of 1-2 years, DelGreco said.

Although the hearing was delayed until after the last week of classes for Point Park, Lesesne and Soto will still be suspended from college and college activities as a result of the charges against them. This includes participating on the men's basketball team, according to Athletic Director Bob Rager.

Rager said that he has not added any new regulations or policies for the basketball team. "The rules that have been on the books have always been strict," he said.

Vice President of Student Development Charles Quillin said the college will not address the charges against Soto and Lesesne because it is a "confidential matter."

He said the college suspended the players because of the seriousness of the allegations.

"We are not presuming guilt or innocence," Quillin said. "The college took this action to lower the voltage of the situation. We have to take seriously the accusations of the crime, but we have not passed judgment."

Quillin explained that the suspensions favor both parties. It keeps the accused away from finger-pointing and taunting, while the accuser is protected from intimidation.

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