WILKES-BARRE — Two forensic psychologists reached similar diagnoses of Hazle Township homicide suspect Reymer Gonzales who they say suffers from severe post traumatic stress and attention deficit disorders, but differ on how his criminal case should proceed.
Gonzales’ attorney, Thomas C. Clemens of Philadelphia, is advocating to transfer his client’s case to juvenile court while Luzerne County assistant district attorneys James L. McMonagle and Brian A. Coleman argue Gonzales should remain in adult court.
Arguments from the two opposing sides were made during a decertification hearing before Judge David W. Lupas on Wednesday.
Whatever the outcome, Gonzales, of Hazleton, is 10 months shy of his 21st birthday when he ages out of juvenile justice rehabilitative programs.
Gonzales was 17 years, 10 months old, when he was charged by the Pennsylvania State Police at Hazleton for his alleged role in the fatal shooting of Rolando K. Cepeda, 18, outside an auto repair garage on West 23rd St., Hazle Township, on April 14, 2023.
Ismael Valdez-Batista, 20, who was the getaway driver, pleaded guilty to criminal attempt to commit criminal homicide in a plea agreement that calls for a sentence of 12 to 24 years. Valdez-Batista has not been sentenced.
A third suspect in the fatal shooting, Eliezer Santana, 19, remains at-large on criminal homicide charges.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Dr. William F. Anzalone testified for Clemens explaining his diagnosis of Gonzales as having severe post traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit disorder, substance abuse and anxiety.
Anzalone said by the time Gonzales turned 17, he had personally witnessed three friends be killed. In one of the tragedies, Gonzales suffered a gunshot wound to his buttocks when his friend, Stanley Jimson, 17, was fatally shot during a party at a house on South Wyoming Street, Hazleton, on March 6, 2022.
Hazleton police and county detectives charged Frangel Garcia Andujar, 24, in the fatal shooting of Jimson, and injuring Gonzales and three others, according to court records.
Anzalone testified Gonzales began to self-medicate with marijuana and became addicted to Percocet due to the gunshot wound to his buttocks.
Anzalone further opined that juvenile justice programs will be greatly more beneficial for Gonzales compared to rehabilitative programs offered in state prisons.
Dr. Frank M. Dattilio, the forensic psychologist who testified for McMonagle and Coleman, testified Gonzales would benefit from programs in state prison due to his age.
While jailed at the county correctional facility without bail for the Cepeda fatal shooting, McMonagle and Coleman used Gonzales’ alleged involvement with Andujar to intimidate a witness regarding the fatal shooting of Jimson.
McMonagle and Coleman argued Gonzales was competent to understand his involvement by connecting the witness with Andujar via a jailhouse phone call.
Court records filed in the witness intimidation case say Andujar and Gonzales, despite being shot at the party, became friends while jailed at the county correctional facility.
Gonzales is facing charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault and three counts of criminal conspiracy for the Cepeda fatal shooting, court records say.
The decertification hearing continues Wednesday afternoon.
