BREAKING: Victor Perez, the president of the Dominican House of Hazleton, has just pleaded no contest to serious assault charges stemming from a shooting incident that left a newspaper owner critically injured. This urgent development comes as Perez faces repercussions for allegedly attacking Bernardo Perez, owner of the Spanish-language newspaper El Periodiquito, during a confrontation on October 4, 2023.
In a Luzerne County courtroom on Friday, February 5, 2024, at 10 a.m., Judge Michael T. Vough accepted Perez’s plea to a felony count of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor charge of making terroristic threats. The court proceedings revealed that Victor Perez, aged 62, shot Bernardo Perez, who was not related to the defendant, as part of a retribution scheme linked to damaging caricatures published in the newspaper. Prosecutors alleged these illustrations depicted Victor Perez and his family as corrupt, with phrases like “steals everything” and branding them as “The Diabolical Family.”
The shooting resulted in a permanent injury to Bernardo Perez’s left wrist, a harrowing consequence of the violent altercation. Authorities report that the confrontation took place outside 145 S. Vine Street in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, igniting public outrage over the incident’s implications for freedom of speech and safety within the community.
In a separate incident on September 16, 2023, Victor Perez also faced allegations of making terroristic threats after allegedly brandishing a firearm and threatening to kill a woman at the El Sabor De Mi Tierra restaurant on Alter Street.
Despite claiming self-defense in the shooting, asserting that Bernardo Perez approached him with a knife, Victor Perez’s no contest plea suggests a significant shift in his legal strategy. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to withdraw additional charges against him, a move that may have lasting implications for his future.
Looking ahead, Judge Vough indicated that Victor Perez may apply for the Intermediate Punishment Program, a rehabilitation-focused probation path typically reserved for non-violent offenders. This decision is particularly notable as prosecutors waived any ineligibility he may have had for this program, raising questions about the legal system’s approach to violent crimes.
The case continues to unfold as the community reacts to the violence and the implications for both the individuals involved and broader societal issues. As Victor Perez remains free on bail pending his sentencing, public interest in this case is expected to intensify.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story, which highlights critical issues surrounding violence, media freedom, and community safety.
