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U92 News
3/9/2010
A former Armagh/East Wheatfield Township firefighter who was involved in a series of arson fires a few years ago is on trial in Cambria County for severely beating his infant son, and in opening arguments yesterday, his attorney blamed the mother for the beatings that left the now-1-year-old with severe irreversible brain damage.
In her opening statement, Cambria County public defender Patricia Moore told the jury that 9-week-old Johnny Nerone was repeatedly and severely beaten by his mother, Sara Nerone, and not by John “Rickey” Nerone. Prosecutor Tamara Bernstein told the jury she would show that Rickey Nerone beat his son as early as three weeks after the birth.
Rickey Nerone is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of simple assault, endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person.
His two-month-old daughter died in April 2008 and authorities reopened that investigation after the most recent case. So far, no charges have been filed and investigators say it will be difficult to gather substantial evidence.
In 2006, Nerone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson for his involvement in a barn fire and a shed fire in Indiana County. Two horses died in the barn. Nerone was sentenced to three to 23 months in prison and probation, plus $22,000 restitution. He also served time in the Indiana County Jail for theft.
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