Four guilty in torture case
Clockwise, Ronald R. Osko, Joseph E. Plovic Jr., Nicole M. Kass and Jennifer S. Conley
Ronald R. Osko
Nicole M. Kass
Joseph E. Plovic Jr.
Jennifer S. Conley
Four people accused of hog-tying, beating and sexually assaulting a mentally disabled woman pleaded guilty and were sentenced Friday in Washington County Court before Judge John DiSalle.
Ronald R. Osko, 21, Nicole M. Kass, 25, both of 230 Charles St., Canton Township, and Joseph E. Plovic Jr., 31, and Jennifer S. Conley, 31, both of 1286 Sycamore St., Washington, were scheduled for trial Monday. Deputy District Attorney Traci McDonald-Kemp said she learned Thursday three of the four defendants in the case wanted to plead guilty, and two were willing to testify against Plovic, who wanted to go to trial. She learned Friday Plovic changed his mind and wanted to plead, and a hearing was scheduled.
McDonald-Kemp said the victim, who now lives out of state, was not present. However, McDonald-Kemp said the victim was “pleased” when she learned she did not have to testify at trial.
According to testimony from previous court hearings, the victim, who has a form of autism and Tourette’s syndrome, was living in a Washington group home when the incident occurred. She testified last April she was friends with Osko and Kass and went to their home April 1, 2014. While at their home, the woman said Kass and Osko began to throw things at her and prevented her from leaving. The woman said the situation escalated, and Osko punched her in the face. The woman said she fell and hit her head off a coffee table, knocking her unconscious. When she woke up, the woman said her clothing had been removed and she was hog-tied on the floor. She also testified she was sexually assaulted with a machete.
The woman said she screamed and then was gagged with her own shirt. She testified she went in and out of consciousness as the pair continued to kick and punch her. The woman also testified Osko stomped on her head while wearing boots.
The woman originally testified Plovic and Conley were asleep in the same room where the assault occurred. She told police they eventually woke up and stopped the abuse but later changed her story and said she was afraid of Plovic and Conley and admitted her recollection of the assault was cloudy in the days immediately afterward. In July, Plovic and Conley were arrested and charged.
Trooper Thomas Kress testified in July he saw the then-23-year-old at UPMC-Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh, where she was taken after receiving initial treatment at Washington Hospital. Kress said her head had been partially shaven, her face was severely beaten and her eyes were nearly swollen shut. There also were injuries to her genitals and ligature marks on her wrists and feet where she had been bound, he added. The trooper also described writings on the victim, including racial slurs and what appeared to be a swastika. Her skin was burned with cigarettes, he said.
The woman said she suffered a fractured nose and spine, numerous lacerations and bruises to her body during the assault.
Osko pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, terroristic threats and conspiracy to unlawful restraint. He was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison.
Kass pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, terroristic threats and unlawful restraint. She was sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison followed by 4 years of probation.
Conley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit unlawful restraint and conspiracy to commit indecent assault. She also pleaded in a separate retail theft case. Her total sentence was 5 to 10 years in prison, 4 years of probation and restitution.
Plovic pleaded guilty in five cases, including the rape of a child. In this case, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse by force, aggravated assault, intimidation, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a weapon, conspiracy to commit indecent assault, conspiracy to commit unlawful restraint, conspiracy to commit simple assault and terroristic threats. He was sentenced to 10½ to 21 years in prison.
All four are not to have contact with the victim and must register with Megan’s Law for the remainder of their lives.