Man allegedly attacked by Pittsburgh police officer pleads guilty
PITTSBURGH – A man pleaded guilty to two citations over an encounter that led to state and federal charges against the Pittsburgh police officer who punched and pushed him.
Court records show Gabriel Despres, 20, of South Park, pleaded guilty Thursday to defiant trespass and public drunkenness for refusing to leave a high school football game at Heinz Field in November. He’s paying $900 in fines and court costs. A citation for underage drinking was withdrawn, court records show.
Despres’ attorney, Christopher Lepore, did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Thursday’s proceedings.
Since-fired Pittsburgh police Sgt. Stephen Matakovich, 47, pleaded not guilty in federal court to violating Despres’ civil rights. He also pleaded not guilty and separately faces trial in Allegheny County court on charges of simple assault and official oppression.
Surveillance video showed Despres standing with his hands at his sides and not advancing before Matakovich pushed him down and then struck him in the face, among other blows, as Despres struggled to get back up.
Matakovich denied wrongdoing through his attorney and testified earlier this year he did nothing wrong.
Matakovich said he used force because he believed Despres was threatening and had adopted an aggressive posture.
Pittsburgh police charged Matakovich – and the police chief fired him – after the video of the Nov. 28 confrontation at a Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League championship game surfaced.
In February, a city district judge dismissed charges of simple assault and official oppression – misusing his government-bestowed power – against Matakovich even after a city police expert on the use of force testified that Matakovich “was not reasonable” in pushing down the man and striking him.
The state charges were refiled along with a felony perjury charge based upon Matakovich’s testimony at the February preliminary hearing. Matakovich was ordered to stand trial after a second preliminary hearing in April on charges of simple assault and official oppression, although a judge threw out the perjury charge without explanation.
Matakovich faces trial in Allegheny County Oct. 5. His federal court trial has yet to be scheduled.