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November 20, 2012

Prosecutors seek higher bond in beating

Sandra K Reabuck sreabuck@tribdem.com

EBENSBURG — Cambria County prosecutors, anticipating that a criminal homicide charge will be filed against Gregory Conzo in the beating death of a Summerhill Township man, are seeking to have his $100,000 bond on an attempted homicide charge increased to keep him in jail.

Conzo, 50, also of Summerhill Township, has been lodged in the county prison since his arrest following an assault in which he allegedly used an aluminum bat to beat Michael Pcola at Pcola’s residence on Nov. 5.

Pcola, 37, died Nov. 7 at Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown.

District Attorney Kelly Callihan has said she is awaiting final autopsy results before deciding on whether to file a criminal

homicide charge.

State police alleged that Pcola was attacked when he went downstairs to check on a disturbance at the house. Conzo allegedly had been involved in a brief argument with Lois Pcola, his one-time girlfriend, and their daughter, Maria. Conzo allegedly hit Maria on the left arm with the bat and then swung again, hitting Michael Pcola.

Scott Lilly, deputy district attorney, on Tuesday asked the court to increase the $100,000 bond. He noted that it could be posted now with 10 percent cash, as permitted by local court rules.

However, under a previous order signed by Judge Patrick Kiniry, Conzo is to remain incarcerated until a Nov. 29 hearing to determine whether the defendant’s recognizance bond should be revoked in a May 2012 domestic violence case in which Lois Pcola was the victim.

Conzo pleaded guilty to simple assault in the domestic violence case but has not been sentenced.

At the Nov. 29 hearing, Kiniry also will consider the prosecution’s request to increase bond in the attempted homicide case.

John Lovette, a pubic defender representing Conzo, said he will oppose the motion to increase the bond unless the police file a homicide charge against the defendant in the meantime.

Conzo’s preliminary hearing on the attempted homicide charge and related offenses is scheduled for Dec. 5 before District Judge Galen Decort of Portage.

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