A New Kensington man was ordered to serve at least four years in prison for the assault of a house guest with a baseball bat.
Brian Mikesell, 51, pleaded guilty to one felony count of aggravated assault in connection with an incident at his home on March 12, 2025 that left another man seriously injured.
According to court records, witnesses told police Mikesell emerged from a basement bathroom with a bat and swung it repeatedly at his victim, hitting him multiple times in the head.
A witness claimed Mikesell, before wielding the bat, said, “Just let me do him, I’ll get rid of the body.”
Westmoreland County prosecutors dismissed charges of attempted homicide, assault and possession of crime instruments to facilitate a plea deal.
Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani ordered Mikesell, who had been in jail since his arrest last year, to serve a sentence of four to 20 years in prison.
The judge said he agreed to impose a mitigated sentence because of what he said were evidentiary problems with the case and because Mikesell took responsibility for his actions.
Police said Mikesell’s victim suffered internal and external injuries to his head, face and torso that required him to be treated in a hospital’s intensive care unit.