October 28, 2015- Commonwealth v David Dones:  A Dauphin County jury this week convicted a Harrisburg man on the charge of Simple Assault.  On February 26, 2015, Dones was living with his 67 year old grandfather, Mr. Maldanado, in Harrisburg City. A verbal argument began in the kitchen of the grandfather’s house and eventually moved into the living room. The victim, Mr. Maldanado testified that his grandson was “talking in circles,” eventually came into the living room where the victim was sitting and proceeded to punch his grandfather repeatedly to the point where the grandfather testified that he lost consciousness. During the trial, Deputy District Attorney April Schantz also presented the testimony of an independent witness who was upstairs taking care of Done's sick grandmother when the incident began. When the witness heard the commotion, she ran downstairs and witnessed the Dones repeatedly punching his grandfather in the face with closed fists. She testified that the assault was so bad, and the couch was full of so much blood, that she believed that the victim was dead. During the trial the jury viewed pictures which depicted the victim's injuries. Mr. Maldanado sustained two black eyes, a laceration on his forehead which required stitches, several scratches/cuts, and had a tooth knocked out during the assault.  After the Commonwealth rested, Dones took the stand and claimed self-defense. He claimed that his grandfather came off of the couch in the living room and hit him several times.  The case was investigated by Harrisburg City Police Officer Marchand T. Pendelton. 

In August 2015, a separate Dauphin County jury convicted Dones of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct for an incident that took place on Kittanny Street in the city on October 11, 2014.  In that case, after the verdict was read, Dones yelled profanities at the jury, screamed at President Judge Lewis, and directed expletive terms towards the prosecutor.  That incident started when Dones was observed standing at the corner of Hummel and Kittanny St (Allison Hill neighborhood) with what looked like a black handgun in his right hand and a metal pipe into his left hand.  When an officer responded, Dones was belligerent and continuously screamed at the officer.  Eventually he was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Dones is facing sentencing for both convictions on November 18, 2015 before President Judge Richard A. Lewis.