SHAMOKIN - Two brothers from Shamokin were committed to Northumberland County Prison following an assault and robbery late Wednesday night that left another man unconscious and needing medical care.
Joshua I. Broscious, 18, and Scott M. Broscious, 20, both of 821 E. Cameron St., Shamokin, were arraigned Thursday before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III of Shamokin and charged with criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery inflicting serious bodily injury, aggravated assault and simple assault. A third individual, a 16-year-old male from Milton, was charged with the same offenses, with his case being handled by Northumberland County Juvenile Court Services.
According to court documents filed by Shamokin City Police Patrolman William Zalinski, officers were dispatched to the area of Independence and Cleaver streets for an assault. When they arrived, the victim, Anthony Nestico, was being treated by emergency personnel for his injuries, which included a swollen right eye and bleeding from the mouth and nose area. Nestico told police he was jumped by three males at that location, and did not know any of them.
A witness told police he was with Josh Broscious right before the assault, standing on Independence Street, when Nestico approached on foot and began talking with them. At the same time, Josh's brother, Scott, and the juvenile, were observing from an apartment balcony.
Following the conversation, Josh Broscious, the 16-year-old male and the witness
started walking west on Independence Street, as did Nestico, several feet behind. Broscious reportedly yelled back to Nestico that he should cross the street and go, and Nestico yelled back he was going home.
As they went farther down Independence Street, Nestico began to lag behind even more, indicating there was no further arguing between them.
Police reported the witness and Broscious approached the intersection of Independence and Cleaver streets, then turned left on Cleaver Street. When Nestico approached the intersection, Broscious yelled something to him and Scott Broscious and the juvenile approached Nestico from the rear.
According to the police report, Josh Broscious approached Nestico and punched him in the face, then continued the assault, knocking him to the ground. Police said the three kept punching and kicking Nestico while he was on the ground and Josh took Nestico's wallet, removed money out of it and threw the wallet into the Shamokin Creek along Water Street.
Police later found the wallet along the creek bank, and Nestico, while at the hospital, picked out Scott Broscious from a photo lineup shown to him by police.
At 3:29 a.m. Thursday, police went to the Broscious residence and took the three males into custody. At the station, the two brothers admitted to the assault, police said, with Josh stating he took approximately $21 from Nestico's wallet.
The brothers were arraigned Thursday morning before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, of Shamokin, and committed to prison on $100,000 bail each. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday before Gembic.