Oregon man reaches plea deal in UT assault case
5/9/2014The second of four men charged in an assault on the University of Toledo campus last summer entered an Alford plea to a misdemeanor charge of assault.
Emilio Cloyne, 19, of 1536 Forrester Dr., Oregon, was found guilty Monday by Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Linda Jennings. In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit to committing a crime, but acknowledges evidence is sufficient for a conviction.
Mr. Cloyne was in a vehicle Aug. 23 with Sheldon Wendel, 21; Domenic Hudson, 18, and Cody Halka, 17, when they got into an argument with Joseph Bialecki, 19, that led to young Halka getting stabbed. Prosecutors said Mr. Bialecki fled, and Mr. Cloyne, Mr. Wendel, and Hudson chased him down and assaulted him.
Hudson is to be sentenced June 11 after he entered an Alford plea last week to aggravated riot and attempted failure to comply with the order of a police officer. Mr. Wendel is set for trial May 27. Mr. Bialecki’s case is set for trial May 12.
Mr. Cloyne faces up to six months in jail when sentenced June 30. As part of a plea agreement, he agreed to testify at the trial of any co-defendants.