2nd Pa. teen charged with hate crime in immigrant’s death can be released pending trial

2nd teen charged with hate crime can be released

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — The second of two Pennsylvania teenagers facing federal hate crime charges in the beating death of a Mexican immigrant can be released from jail pending trial.

A federal judge on Wednesday ruled 19-year-old Derrick Donchak of Shenandoah can be released from prison when his state assault sentence is completed.

Donchak and 18-year-old Brandon Piekarsky were convicted in May of assault in the July 2008 beating death of 25-year-old Luis Ramirez in Shenandoah. A Schuylkill County jury acquitted the teens of the most serious state charges against them.

The teens were charged in federal court last month. A separate indictment charges three police officers with obstructing the investigation into Ramirez’s death.

Piekarsky has completed his sentence and been released.

Information from: WNEP-TV, www.wnep.com